U.K. Foreign Secretary Liz Truss cemented her place as front-runner in the race to replace Prime Minister Boris Johnson, winning endorsement Saturday from an influential former rival for the top job.
Tom Tugendhat, who was eliminated from the contest in earlier rounds of voting by Conservative lawmakers, said Truss had the "resolution, determination, and passion" to be prime minister.
Polls give Truss an edge with Tory members, though Sunak is more popular with the general public, who don't have a say in the race. The winner will be announced Sept. 5 and will automatically become prime minister, replacing Johnson, who stepped down as Conservative leader this month after three years in office following months of ethics scandals.
Truss also secured backing this week from Defense Secretary Ben Wallace, who is highly regarded by party members for his handling of Britain's response to the war in Ukraine. Wallace said Truss's international experience as Britain's top diplomat and commitment to increased military spending gave her "the edge."