Tees Valley mayor Ben Houchen warns against protracted Tory leadership race

Houchen says party must avoid seeming self-indulgent as other Conservatives attack Liz Truss over new intervention

The Conservatives should not have a protracted leadership debate as it would be a waste of time" and could risk appearing self-indulgent, the Tees Valley mayor Ben Houchen has said.

His comments came as former Conservative parliamentary candidates rounded on the former prime minister Liz Truss, who has attacked the leadership of Rishi Sunak in the failed general election campaign by saying he had trashed her legacy in office.