By coming out in support of Liz Truss, Welsh Minister Sir Robert Buckland has become the first cabinet minister to publicly switch sides in the Tory leadership race.
Sir Robert initially backed Rishi Sunak in the race to succeed Boris Johnson, citing his ability to lead the country through “challenging economic times”.
But in an article for The Daily Telegraph, he said he now believed Mrs Truss’ economic proposals offered the best prospect of getting through the current crisis.
“Her plans give us the best chance to reach our potential with the high-growth, high-productivity economy we need not only to get out of this crisis, but to protect ourselves from the next,” he wrote.
Sir Robert’s defection will come as a fresh blow to Mr Sunak, the former chancellor, who sought to underline his willingness to tell hard truths while accusing his rival of trading in a “fairy tale” economy.
It will also reaffirm Ms Truss’s status as the clear front-runner, with MPs hoping for a ministerial job in the new government looking to join the likely winner.
Liz Truss is seen as the favorite to succeed Boris JohnsonCredit: Ben Birchall/Pennsylvania
Earlier this week, former minister Chris Skidmore became the first MP to announce he was switching loyalties and backing Ms Truss.
In that article, Sir Robert said it was not easy to switch sides mid-campaign, but he believed it was the right thing to do.
“As the campaign progressed and as I listened carefully to both candidates, I thought deeply about the issues that concern me and what I want to do as the next prime minister,” he said.
“It is not easy to change your mind on a matter like this, but I have decided that Liz Truss is the right person to lead our country forward.”
Meanwhile, Culture Secretary Nadine Dorries launched a scathing attack on Deputy Prime Minister Dominic Raab after he defended Mr Sunak over allegations he had “stabbed Boris in the back”.
In an interview with The Times, Mr Raab said Mr Sunak had tried to make his relationship with Mr Johnson work until the moment he felt he had to resign – helping to trigger the wave of resignation that forced him to leave.
He also sought to refute claims that Mr Sunack was preparing for a leadership challenge, pointing out that Ms Truss had cultivated support with her so-called “noise for Liz” dinners for Tory MPs.
“Anyone who thinks Rishi stabbed Boris in the back is kidding himself. For months, Liz did a lot of work for Liz, he said.
“Rishi worked very hard to make the relationship with the Prime Minister work, he explained why in the end he couldn’t stay.
“I say this as someone who has been staunchly loyal to the Prime Minister.
However, Ms Dorris, who previously published a mock-up of a toga-clad Mr Sunak stabbing Johnson in the back, accused Mr Raab, who was one of the former chancellor’s early supporters, of trying to “rewrite the facts “.
“Liz may have been drinking with MPs, but she didn’t resign from her job, she didn’t walk away, she was secretly campaigning with MPs for votes, registering a website and she wasn’t ready to campaign or be part of a planned coup. Sunak was. You can’t rewrite the facts Dominic Raab,” she tweeted.
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