A number of constituents have contacted me about the leadership election to replace Boris Johnson. I therefore thought it would be useful to provide Forester readers with an update.
In recent months, I have made my feelings about Boris Johnson clear. I voted for him in the 2019 leadership election because I wanted to get Brexit done and defeat Jeremy Corbyn – I am pleased he achieved these things. However, the events of recent months have proven that it is untenable for him to remain as Prime Minister.
After careful consideration, I have reached the conclusion that Rishi Sunak is best placed to offer the fresh, principled leadership this country needs.
Rishi has a proven track record as an effective operator in Government. He worked at breakneck speed to deliver the economic interventions, most notably the furlough scheme, which protected millions of jobs, saved thousands of businesses and kept the economy afloat during the pandemic. I have been impressed by his command of detail as Chancellor, the shrewdness of his decision making and his ability to effectively communicate his choices to the British public.
Rishi has also proven himself to be a principled man. When concerns about him emerged in the press, he promptly referred himself to the Independent Adviser on Ministers' Interests, who investigated and found that Rishi’s conduct in meeting his obligations under the Ministerial Code had been meticulous. A Prime Minister needs to be a person of the utmost integrity and Rishi Sunak is exactly that.
Conservative MPs are whittling the field of leadership contenders down to two. This process will be completed today and I hope that Rishi is one of those final two candidates.
The final two will then campaign for the votes of Conservative Party members, with an election being held and result expected on 5 September. The following day, Boris Johnson will officially resign as Prime Minister and the new leader will be invited by Her Majesty The Queen to form a Government.
We need to rebuild trust with serious, competent leadership. I have every confidence that Rishi Sunak can provide the capable leadership that our whole country needs right now.
This article was first published in The Forester newspaper.
