Ben Wallace backs Liz Truss for PM as she and Rishi Sunak pitch to northerners in first hustings

Political Editor Robert Peston rounds up the first of 12 official hustings for party members to put their questions to the two Tory leadership candidates

Defence Secretary Ben Wallace has thrown his support behind Liz Truss to become Britain's next prime minister following the first day of official hustings.

Mr Wallace's backing came after Foreign Secretary Ms Truss and ex-Chancellor Rishi Sunak faced a grilling from Tory party members in Leeds on Thursday as they sought to woo northern voters.

The defence secretary is one of the last Cabinet heavyweights to declare who he is supporting and his endorsement will be seen as a huge boost for Camp Truss.

He told The Sun: "I've sat next to Liz in the Cabinet for two and a half years. I've sat next to her in National Security Councils. I've sat next to her at NATO and international summits. I've seen her in action. "And, you know, she's authentic. She's honest. And she's experienced."

In what appears to be a swipe at Mr Sunak's resignation as chancellor - the first of many that eventually led to the downfall of Boris Johnson - Mr Wallace said he doesn't "have the luxury of just walking out the door" and that he has "roles in keeping this country safe".

He continued: "And the guardian of the markets, you know, the guardian of our economy, is the chancellor. I mean, what would have happened that day if the markets had crashed?"

Mr Wallace, considered a potential candidate himself just a few weeks ago, admitted Ms Truss is "not the slickest salesperson on the planet" but insisted she "knows how to govern".

"She's not running a highly polished Hollywood production leadership campaign, but that's reflective of who she is," he added to the newspaper.

His comments came as the first of 12 hustings - where party members across the country question the final two leadership hopefuls - took place on Thursday. Voting for the next Tory leader and prime minister closes on September 2.

The candidates were quizzed separately on a vast array of policy areas – as well as their predictions for the Women’s Euro 2022 final – as they sought to woo northern voters in the race for No 10.

Robert Peston discusses the momentum building behind Ms Truss

The event, hosted by LBC’s Nick Ferrari, took place in Leeds, where Ms Truss started by capitalising on her Yorkshire roots.

Referencing her upbringing in the city, she said it was “fantastic” to be in her “old stomping ground”, adding that she hoped none of her former teachers were in the audience.

Ms Truss said she got “grit, determination and straight-talking” from Yorkshire, and that is what is needed in Downing Street as “we face a huge global economic crisis”.

The foreign secretary also made reference to her relocation to Norfolk, the site of her constituency, and the fact she has become a supporter of Norwich City FC.

She said: “I do want us to channel the spirit of Don Revie” – a former Leeds United and England manager – because “we need to win”.

“And, my friends, we can win against Keir Starmer, who is a patronising plastic patriot,” she added.

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Former chancellor Mr Sunak said he was “having the time of my life” campaigning for the top job.

He suggested a “buyers’ cartel” where “everyone would agree to pay a fixed amount for Russian energy”, to deprive Moscow of “revenue that is funding its war effort”.

“If we can have a buyers’ cartel in the world where everyone would agree to pay a fixed amount for Russian energy, and enforce that through secondary sanctions, which we were working on how to do, that would be a way to make sure we get the energy we need at prices that are far better for us and deprive Russia of revenue that is funding its war effort,” he said.

Ms Truss told the hustings she would return the whips’ office to 12 Downing Street.

She also insisted “single sex spaces should be protected”, particularly for young people.

Addressing Ms Truss, an audience member called for a policy that guarantees girls can go to a toilet in a safe environment in any school in the country.

The foreign secretary responded: “I completely agree with you. I have sought to clarify that as women’s minister I’ve been very clear that single sex spaces should be protected, particularly for young people, as well as … vulnerable women in domestic violence shelters, for example.

“And I can assure you as prime minister I would direct that to happen, because our girls need… it’s a difficult time being a teenager, being a young girl, and you should be able to have the privacy you need in your own loo. So I 100% agree with you and I would make that happen.”

Meanwhile, parts of the audience at the Tory hustings clapped when the host mentioned support for Boris Johnson to be included on the ballot.

A spokesperson for Ms Truss’ campaign said: “Tonight’s hustings showed why Liz is the right person to lead our party and country.

“She has a bold and ambitious plan for Britain. She will unleash the full potential of our great country, and stand up for people who work hard and do the right thing.

“Liz can be trusted to deliver on Brexit, on the economy, and defend freedom at home and abroad.”