Tory right-wingers should unite behind Liz Truss, says cabinet minister

‘Come and join Liz’, pleads Therese Coffey as rivals Penny Mordaunt and Rishi Sunak march ahead

Foreign secretary Liz Truss (Getty Images)

The right-wing of the Conservative Party should unite behind Liz Truss, senior backer Therese Coffey has said as the foreign secretary struggles to keep pace with the frontrunners.

Ms Truss only nabbed 50 votes in the first ballot of the Tory race, falling behind rivals Rishi Sunak and Penny Mordaunt, as she prepares to set out her pitch as a tax-cutter on Thursday morning.

The work and pensions secretary – who called Ms Truss a “fantastic lady” – said it was time for supporters of Kemi Badenoch and Suella Braverman to fall in behind the foreign secretary.