Work and Pensions Secretary Therese Coffey, who is a supporter of the foreign secretary, revealed the move in a graphic posted on social media on Tuesday morning. The government whips who have declared their support for Mrs Truss are Sir David Evennett, Stuart Anderson, Adam Holloway, Suzanne Webb, Joy Morrissey, Gareth Johnson, Scott Mann, Craig Whittaker, David TC Davies, James Duddridge and Rebecca Harris. Chief Whip Chris Heaton-Harris has yet to announce who he is supporting. Tories fined by Electoral Commission – Politics Latest Mr Heaton-Harris said on July 8: “The whip’s office will remain neutral throughout the Conservative leadership contest.” But that policy has since been lifted, with Mr Mann clarifying in a statement on social media that “the government leader has removed the requirement to remain publicly neutral as the leadership contest enters its final stages”. Mr Mann added: “I have worked with Liz at the Treasury and have seen first-hand how she deals with complex situations and I believe her vision for the country and domestic policy platform is best placed to lead us forward.” Mr Whittaker referred to the removal of “ties” and said it was a “privilege” to support Ms Truss. While Mr Anderson added: “I am now able to publicly state who I support and I am delighted to announce that I am supporting Liz Truss. “I have worked with Liz Truss on a number of occasions over the last few years. I believe her economic standing, her commitment to increase defense spending to 3% of GDP and her parliamentary experience make her the best choice to lead our country .” A spokesman for the whip’s office said: “The chief whip has allowed whips to declare their leadership allegiance since the competition was taken away from Parliament. “This follows the original whip allowing whips to inform their local members of their personal preferences. “The Chief Whip and Deputy Chief Whip remain neutral.” Read more: Rishi Sunak and Liz Truss promise more scrutiny of Scottish Government as they head to Perth Sir Keir Starmer insists Labour’s ‘radical’ energy plan is ‘real answer’ to cost-of-living crisis It comes as Ms Truss and Mr Sunak prepare to face questions from Tory MPs in Perth on Tuesday following a verbal spat between Ms Truss and First Minister Nicola Sturgeon last week. It will be the Conservative’s seventh leadership campaign. Ms Truss called Sturgeon an “attention seeker”, then the Scottish leader claimed the foreign secretary asked her how to get into Vogue before Ms Truss accused the leaders of the three devolved nations of playing “political games” to the independence. Calling herself a “child of the Union”, Ms Truss said she would deliver across the country and would “never underestimate Scotland’s potential”, while saying the nation had been “let down by the SNP”. Use Chrome browser for more accessible video player 0:46 Truss: “Get tough on the water companies” While Mr Sunak promised Scottish civil servants would face greater scrutiny from Westminster and UK ministers should be more visible in Scotland. He pledged to make it compulsory for Scotland’s most senior civil servant, the Permanent Secretary to the Scottish Government, to attend Westminster’s Public Affairs and Constitutional Affairs Committee (PACAC) every year – as does the UK Government’s Cabinet Secretary. The former chancellor also promised to enforce “consistent reporting of public service performance data across the country” so Westminster can hold the Scottish Government to account for delivering key public services. Mr Sunak is trailing in the polls of Tory MPs who will decide who will be their new leader and prime minister on September 5.
