Ben Wallace endorses Liz Truss as Sunak backs new grammar schools

Defence secretary says Truss is only candidate with right experience after rivals take part in first official Conservative party hustings in Leeds

Ben Wallace, the defence secretary, has endorsed Liz Truss to be the next Conservative leader and prime minister, giving her campaign a major boost after the candidates' hustings in Leeds on Thursday night.

In the Times, Wallace said Rishi Sunak was a capable cabinet minister" who could do the job of prime minister", but Truss was the only candidate who has both the breadth and depth of experience" to handle problems such as the Ukraine war, pandemic and inflation.