Penny Mordaunt has backed Liz Truss to become prime minister, saying the Conservatives 'may lose an election' if they make the wrong decision in the contest. Mordaunt, who was beaten by Truss to be Rishi Sunak’s challenger in the final stage of the Conservative leadership race, said Truss was 'the hope candidate'. Introducing Truss at the latest leadership hustings in Exeter, Mordaunt said: 'Who most embodies the vision and values the British public had in their heads and their hearts when they voted in 2016 and 2019? [...] I’ve seen enough to know who the person I’m going to put my faith in is – and that is Liz Truss.'