Conservative leadership – live: Rivals clash in hustings as Mordaunt endorses Truss

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Former Conservative President Brandon Lewis says he supports Liz Truss because of NI protocol

Tory leadership rivals Liz Truss and Rishi Sunak clashed during an election campaign in Exeter as ballots fell sent to members of the Conservative Party during a difficult week in the race.< /p>

The contender for third place me Penny Mordaunt appeared on stage at the start of the event to support Ms Truss, who had previously v due to 'liberate' UK farming through deregulation, without specifying in detail which laws she would abolish.

< p>Under mounting pressure, the former chancellor had insisted his ultimate promise to cut taxes was 'perfectly affordable', as he defended his promise to cut the base rate to 16% by the end of the day. end of the next legislature if he becomes Prime Minister.

Mr. Sunak also claimed Tory MPs who accused him of betraying Boris Johnson were postulating "rose-tinted" glasses in his final months as prime minister.

His comments came after the minister Cabinet Minister for Online Safety, Nadine Dorries, has come under fire for sharing a photo appearing to show her brandishing a knife at Boris Johnson in a parody of the murderous overthrow of Julius Caesar.

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