On the day new Conservative leader Liz Truss visits the Queen to become Prime Minister, South Swindon MP Sir Robert Buckland said he switched his support to her because she was ‘the better candidate’.

When the Conservative party narrowed down the candidates to replace Boris Johnson to two, Sir Robert, who had kept his cards close to his chest until then, came out in favour of former Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak.

But as the campaign between the two continued Sir Robert said he became more convinced by MS truss than Mr Sunak and on August 12 he announced he had switched support.

He told BBC Radio Wiltshire’s Dan O’Brien that wasn’t in order to ‘back a winner’ in the hope of keeping his cabinet post as Welsh Secretary or even getting a more prestigious job.

He said: “I saw Liz grow in stature and confidence and ability through the test of the leadership process and the long process that we’ve seen.

“I had concerns that I felt the campaign I had been supporting wasn’t in touch with some of the issues I had thought it was going to be.

“In particular I thought there were contradictions in the initial stance holding firm on no tax cuts and bearing down on inflation and promises made in the campaign, which seemed to contradict that.

He said he mainly moved his support to Ms Truss For “positive reasons", saying she "she is somebody who can bring the party together.

“It’s more about the country and party now. There’s a looming tidal wave of rising energy costs which will affect us all and that needs addressing by the Prime Minister in the first few days.”

Sir Robert, who was invited back to cabinet as Welsh secretary after Boris Johnson announced his resignation in July, told Dan O’Brien he had not changed simple to be on the winning side, possibly in hopes of a cabinet job.

He said:” I made the decision weeks ago and I didn’t know who was going to win. I made the decision after much reflection.

"I’m entitled to change my mind, and I changed my mind and I couldn’t go on saying something else.”

As someone who has been at the heart of government while many eyes have been on the party contest, Sir Robert said ministers and civil servants have been working on plans to alleviate the looming crisis.

He said: “The new prime Minister will be presented with options on day one. The intent is there to make an intervention.”

After kissing hands with the Queen, Prime Minister Liz Truss is to set about selecting a new cabinet. Some commentators have tipped Sir Robert to retain his job at the Wales Office.