MPs share thoughts on Prime Minister
Call for General Election as Sunak takes charge
This week saw the appointment of the country’s 57th Prime Minister just days after the 56th – and shortest serving – PM resigned.
Tumbling approval in opinion polls, ministerial resignations and discontent from within her own party led to Liz Truss’ announcement of her intention to quit at around lunchtime on Thursday, October 20, only seven weeks since she became PM.
On Monday, it was confirmed that former Chancellor Rishi Sunak had won the race – in which he would ultimately be the only declared contender – to become the new leader of the Conservative Party and, subsequently, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom.
It was a leadership contest
fraught with rumours over the return of Boris Johnson, who claimed he had reached the required 100-member backing threshold before announcing his decision not to run on Sunday evening.
Penny Mordaunt sought to capitalise on Johnson’s backers, although she would withdraw from the contest before the results of the contest were announced on Monday.
Maidenhead MP Theresa
May congratulated Mr Sunak on Monday afternoon. In a tweet, Mrs May said: “Rishi will provide the calm, competent, pragmatic leadership our country needs at this deeply challenging time.
“He has my full support.” However, Labour MP for Slough, Tan Dhesi, blasted the Conservatives, and said: “Another month, another Prime Minister – the chaos of Tory infighting continues.
“Day by day, the legitimacy of this Government and our country’s reputation diminishes.
“Conservatives should respect the UK’s democratic traditions, as well as the interests of the ordinary hardworking British public who are sadly paying the price for Tory mistakes, and call a General Election now.”
Beaconsfield MP Joy Morrissey,
whose constituency includes Burnham, could not publicly comment as a Government Whip. However, Ms Morrissey said in her Express column this week that she believed the ‘widespread economic uncertainty and market instability’ will be remedied
under the guidance of the new Prime Minister and Chancellor Jeremy Hunt.
Windsor MP Adam Afriyie, who earlier this year announced his decision not to run as the Conservative candidate at the next General Election, is yet to comment.