A strong start by new Prime Minister

TWO weeks ago the door to Number 10 Downing Street opened to the UK’s second ever female prime minister.

Although I personally supported Andrea Leadsom during the leadership race, I welcome the new Prime Minister and am encouraged by the strong start she has made.

In light of the referendum result, the process of withdrawing from the EU and Britain’s future place in the world will dominate the political agenda for the remainder of the Parliament and beyond. Brexit is the largest political challenge of a generation, but handled correctly it is also the largest opportunity.

Therefore, Theresa May’s decision to create new specialist government departments to deal with this, and the appointment of experienced and determined leave supporters in the form of David Davis and Liam Fox to lead the respective Brexit and new International Trade negations, provides an early confidence boost that we are well placed to take that opportunity.

The importance of remaining firm friends with our neighbours in Europe is something I wrote about in this column both in the lead up to and following the referendum, and the Prime Minister’s early visits to Germany and France provides reassurance that the UK intends to do that.

While I look forward to supporting the Brexit negotiations, we must also remember that the other business of government does not stop. When Parliament returns from its summer break I shall continue representing the needs of my constituents, standing up for our local communities and the north west, and continuing to push for improvements and reforms across society, particularly in education and healthcare.