Over the last week, the overwhelming message I have been receiving from constituents is that our priority needs to be political and economic stability. And it is in this spirit that I have decided to support Rishi Sunak as our next Prime Minister – and am delighted he has been selected.
Since the announcement of the ‘mini budget’, market forces have dominated the political theatre in this country – giving the impression that we are in a much worse position than other countries when the reality has been that the euro is at a 20-year low against the Dollar and the Japanese Yen is at a 32-year low – with interest rates and inflation going up across the world, not just here.

The Government was right to take unprecedented action to address energy prices because of war. It was also right to encourage economic growth to avoid stagnation and recession. I remember what it was like to be made redundant when the 2008 recession hit. In West Dorset, 18 per cent of our businesses closed during the coronavirus pandemic alone, so I know the value of economic growth and am determined to do all I can to ensure we prosper.

Therefore I welcomed the policies outlined by the former Prime Minister to avoid a potential recession forecast for spring next year. It is why I welcomed the decision to take Dorset seriously for economic growth by offering Investment Zones to bolster trading conditions for places such as Weymouth, Portland and Wool, and bring in quality jobs for people all across West Dorset.
While I believe Liz Truss’s intention to avoid a recession was right, the pace of her policies was wrong and caused ‘indigestion’ in the markets. And late last week, it became clear that the level of political turbulence was not sustainable and the drive to grow has to be balanced by stability, both political and economic. I made the decision to support Rishi Sunak in the recent leadership election after consulting many constituents and their priority was clear. ‘Political and economic stability’. Rishi, as Chancellor, delivered these core aims, and ranks consistently high among the many hundreds of constituents I have asked in recent days and I am sure he has the skills needed to unite us as a party, as a nation to weather the storms ahead.