Jake Berry has announced he is backing Liz Truss in her bid to become the next Tory party leader and Prime Minister.

The Rossendale and Darwen MP, who is also chair of the Northern Research Group of backbench MPs, made the announcement during a visit to Leeds.

Rishi Sunak and Liz Truss will go head to head in a hustings event with Tory members in the city tonight.

Speaking in a video posted on his Twitter page, Mr Berry said: “I am announcing that I am backing Liz Truss as she’s the person with energy to bring action and delivery to make sure we level up our United Kingdom.

“I’ve met a lot with Liz and we’ve spent time talking about how we transform people’s lives not just in this great city of Leeds but across the north of England.

“That’s why I’m proud to be backing Liz Truss to be the next Prime Minister.”

 

Last week, Mr Berry said he would seek to drive forward the government's 'levelling up' agenda from the backbenches.

The former Northern Powerhouse minister tackled Boris Johnson at his last Prime Minister's Questions in the House of Commons on the issue saying, "As you rightly reflect with pride this summer on the work of both yourself and your government, will you urge all candidates in the leadership election and all colleagues in the House further to drive forward the levelling-up agenda to tackle inequality wherever it is found in the United Kingdom?"

Mr Johnson said: "I heartily agree with you.

"It is not just inequality; it is inequality of opportunity, and that is what levelling up addresses."