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

There is definitely a mood in the party for making sure that two cabinet heavyweights we have got, who come from different traditions, different sides of the EU referendum campaign, Theresa May and Michael Gove - it would be right to put them to the party in the country.

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.

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

I have said before I think it would be really good to have a woman in the final two but that's a matter for the parliamentary party.

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.

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.