I have concluded unequivocally that the right person is Michael Gove and I am delighted to be endorsing his candidacy.

I think honestly that Michael [Gove] came to this decision[Prime Minister candidate] very late, that he needed to step up.

I think this is what we must not lose sight of, present a confident, positive and optimistic platform for our country's future in which this Party appeals to the centre ground of British politics.

I didn't think I was the right person to do that job but I do think Michael Gove is and that's why I'm backing him.

It is equally important that we now secure the right deal for Britain - and the next leader must have the skill and credibility to put together the right team to renegotiate our exit from and future relationship with Europe and explain the final terms to the British people.

It has become clear just how divided our nation is - between young and old, north and south and those with different education and work backgrounds. So it is clear to me that the next leader of the Conservative Party must be someone who can unite the country.

And it's a question of who the parliamentary party thinks is the right person to lead - not just in terms of the negotiations but also the wider 'one nation' agenda that we set out in our manifesto last year and that we were elected on.