Newark and Bingham MP Robert Jenrick expresses support for Rishi Sunak in leadership race

They say that a week is a long time in politics and my eight years as your MP have certainly been more than eventful, writes Newark and Bingham MP Robert Jenrick.

We await our fourth Prime Minister in that short time.

On September 5 we will find out whether that is to be Rishi Sunak or Liz Truss.

In many respects I was saddened to see the premature end of Boris Johnson’s premiership. I had supported him for the leadership in 2019, whilst not entirely a natural fit for my politics, because I believed that he was the only candidate able to break the impasse that had gripped Parliament, enable us to leave the European Union as the public had voted to do in the referendum and avoid the undoubted disaster of a Jeremy Corbyn-Nicola Sturgeon coalition government.

It was the right call as he delivered on each of those fronts and for that will always be a consequential Prime Minister.

He was then dealt an extraordinarily difficult set of cards, with the pandemic, an economic crisis and a European war.

I think history will judge that he handled the pandemic as well as almost any major country did, with the vaccine programme as a standout achievement. And his leadership on Ukraine has been inspiring and impactful.

His weaknesses were apparent from the start too and came to the fore in the last year. I wanted him to succeed and gave him every opportunity to do so. I did conclude that it wasn’t working and his method of government was incompatible with how I wanted to see the country run.

I want serious, professional, moderate government befitting the challenging times we live in.

And so the wheel turns again and we must chose another leader. Those qualities: seriousness of purpose; rationality and intellectual ability; pragmatism; honesty and integrity; a willingness to level with us about the trade-offs we face, are what I have tested the candidates for.

Locally, I want someone who cares about rural life, understands small business and enterprise and will ensure the Midlands and the north get a fair share of investment.

I want someone who can represent the whole United Kingdom and broaden the appeal of the Conservative Party.

Naturally I want someone who can win a general election, which requires fluency and persuasiveness.

Knowing the main candidates very well (Rishi has been a friend since we were elected; I served as Liz’s Parliamentary Private Secretary and as a fellow Treasury Minister) I can see the good in both.

My judgement is that Rishi most clearly fits my tests and is the strongest candidate. That was also the view of Conservative MPs. Now the Party membership will decide.

Contrary to the lazy stereotype, they are common sensical and engaged local people, with a strong sense of the national interest. We will see how they judge it.

Whoever takes over faces very considerable challenges. Inflation will continue for some time and must be our priority (above tax cuts I’m afraid, much as I want to see them).

Public services need reform as too many are not working properly. The economy urgently needs growth and a plan to improve productivity.

The public finances are strained and can’t cope with more spending, despite the demographic pressures.

The international picture is very troubled with an aggressive Russia, Iran and China. We will get through these times of course and the fundamentals of our economy and country remain strong, but we need focused leadership right now, more than ever.