Jacob Rees-Mogg and Nadine Dorries have announced their support for Liz Truss’ Conservative leadership campaign in a major endorsement from two of Boris Johnson’s closest allies.
The move by the Brexit Opportunities and Culture Secretary came as Deputy Prime Minister Dominic Raab and Transport Secretary Grant Shapps backed Rishi Sunak to succeed Johnson as Tory leader and Prime Minister.
Truss’ emerging profile as a ‘Johnson succession’ candidate will now be further bolstered by the support of Rees-Mogg and Nadine Dorris.
It also somewhat strengthens the authority of the foreign secretary – who supported remaining in the EU in the 2016 referendum – in the Brexiteer wing of the Conservative Party.
“Liz Truss is the best candidate. She is a genuine Eurosceptic who will look after voters and believes in low taxation,” Rees-Mogg told reporters.
Doris added, “And she’s a woman.”
However, eyebrows may still be raised at the way Rees-Mogg and Nadine Dorries made their statement. The two sitting ministers used Downing Street as a backdrop for their meddling in the party’s political race, while the move could also be seen as a tacit endorsement of Truss by Johnson, who said he would not try to meddle in the race.
The role played by Truss in the Remain campaign – which warned that Brexit would be catastrophic for the UK – is seen as one of her Achilles heels in the leadership race.
She said during the 2016 referendum campaign: “I have great faith in the British people. I think the British are reasonable people. They understand that Britain would be better off staying in a reformed EU.
Truss publicly announced a change of heart in 2017 and insisted he would back Brexit if another vote were held.
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