Penny Mordaunt’s Tory leadership race withdrawal statement, in full

Penny Mordaunt has withdrawn from the Tory leadership race, meaning Rishi Sunak becomes the next Tory Party leader and Prime Minister.

In a statement, issued just before 2pm on Monday, Ms Mordaunt said Mr Sunak had her full support.

Below is the statement she issued, in full:

“Our Party is our membership. Whether we are elected representatives, activists, fundraisers or supporters. We all have a stake in who our leader is.

“These are unprecedented times. Despite the compressed timetable for the leadership contest it is clear that colleagues feel we need certainty today. They have taken this decision in good faith for the good of the country.

“Members should know that this proposition has been fairly and thoroughly tested by the agreed 1922 process.

“As a result, we have now chosen our next Prime Minister. This decision is an historic one and shows, once again, the diversity and talent of our party. Rishi has my full support.

“I am proud of the campaign we ran and grateful to all those, across all sides of our party, who gave me their backing. We all owe it to the country, to each other and to Rishi to unite and work together for the good of the nation. There is much work to be done.”