The Conservative leadership contest is not far from its final furlong now. It has been an excellent display of the talent and ideas that our party has to offer and we are very proud of the final two candidates, both of whom are exceedingly capable.
But now is the time for us to choose a new leader, for our party and to captain our country as we sail into choppy waters. The next Prime Minister faces an unenviable in-tray - rising energy bills, war in Europe, the Northern Ireland protocol to name a few.
As Members of the Senedd, we also want to ensure our leader is firmly dedicated to the whole of the United Kingdom. We know the Union supports Wales, but faced with a Welsh government propped up by nationalists, we are forced to make the case for the Union of our countries more and more.
Read more: Tory leadership contender Liz Truss criticised for pledging to build the M4 relief road
We are Conservative and Unionist to our core, and we need a Prime Minister who is on our side. We need a leader that will unite our party as well as our country. As much as the leadership contest has been a fantastic exchange of ideas and visions for our country, it has not been without its scrapes and bruises for the Conservative Party.
Our new leader must have the right vision, character and experience to hit the ground running from day one. We need a leader who is fully committed to our Union, and will continue to help us make the case to people in all four corners of our country.
And we need a leader who can unite the Party, because without this first and foremost we cannot make progress on any of our most important aims. That is why we have decided to unite behind Liz Truss. The Party is beginning to unite behind her.
She has senior support from all parts of the parliamentary party, a range of intakes, areas, and philosophies represented. She is the clear choice for unity now. Liz has a plan that will put money back into people's pockets now, through her reversal of the national insurance rise.
She's also committed to lowering households' energy bills, by cutting green levies. She will help families and firms with the pressures they're facing today -whether that's in Carlisle or Cardiff, Wakefield or Wrexham. We trust Liz to be able to deliver for Wales.
She has pledged to continue investing in key infrastructure in each constituent part of our country to drive growth. This starts with her pledge to build the M4 relief road, stepping up to the plate where Mark Drakeford’s Labour Party have failed. And her vision for Wales and the United Kingdom is the right one.
She rejects the idea that the Union is just a marriage of convenience. She grew up in Paisley and went to school in Leeds - she is a child of the Union and understands that we are one county, with a shared history and identity. Some of us may speak different languages, and of course we can all engage in a bit of friendly rivalry when it comes to sport, whether that be rugby, football, or the Commonwealth Games earlier this month.
But ultimately, we have more in common that divides us. We do not just share borders, but families and friends too. Liz knows this, and she will strengthen our shared bonds. Unity is the key word for us. For our party, and our country. We know that we are stronger when we stand together, and we will need strength to be able to take on the challenges that face us as a nation over the coming months. We are proud to now be backing Liz Truss to deliver unity in our Party, and deliver for our Union.
