Ex-Northern Ireland secretary Brandon Lewis has weighed in behind Liz Truss - and claimed that Rishi Sunak put up ‘huge resistance’ to efforts to override the Northern Ireland Protocol.
But Truss has played down claims she has a clear lead over her rival, even as her campaign was further boosted by the support of the party big whigs on a crunch weekend in the race for No 10.
He claimed the former Chancellor put up ‘huge resistance’ to efforts to override the Northern Ireland Protocol and was more focused on trying to ‘keep the EU happy’.Sunak backed a bill to override protocol – which aims to remove trade barriers with the EU but has been accused of breaking international law – at a hustings event earlier this week.
Sunak, who has consistently trailed Truss in polls of party members who will decide the next PM, faces an uphill battle to win them over before ballots start landing on their doorsteps next week.Both contenders are continuing to meet voters around the country, with Sunak tweeting photos of himself with supporters in key southern constituencies.
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