A COUNCILLOR in the new Westmorland and Furness combined authority has openly backed Rishi Sunak in the Conservative leadership election.

He is one of 500 councillors across the UK that have backed Mr Sunak as he competes against Liz Truss for leadership of the Conservative party, and therefore the next Prime Minister. 

Niyall Phillips, the Conservative member representing the Hawcoat and Newbarns ward, will start sitting in the new Westmorland and Furness combined authority when it opens on 1 April next year. 

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In a Twitter post Mr Phillips said: "I'm one of the over 500! The investment Rishi helped deliver to Barrow will help towards levelling up and leave a lasting legacy!" 

His post was a retweet of a video Rishi Sunak put up earlier today where he thanks the Conservative councillors for their endorsement.