Rishi Sunak camp says debates against Truss will change Tory members’ minds

Truss is mental and will be found out,' says supporter of former chancellor as he launches fightback in Grantham

Rishi Sunak will launch his fightback in the Conservative leadership race from Margaret Thatcher's birthplace this weekend, with his supporters urging party members to delay voting until they have seen him take on Liz Truss in more debates.

Sunak's campaign team is drawing up plans to try to reverse what one called a worrying trend" after Truss pulled ahead by 24 percentage points in polling of party members. About 160,000 members will have the chance to decide the next prime minister when they receive ballots from 1-5 August. They can cast their votes immediately or wait until closer to the 1 September deadline.