Chipping Barnet MP, Theresa Villiers, has thrown her weight behind Rishi Sunak in the Conservative leadership race, publishing the following statement:
"To take our country forward, we need a Prime Minister with the ability, experience and character to grip the big issues we face. Rishi Sunak is the best candidate for the job. That is why I shall be nominating him to become the next leader of the Conservative Party.
There is a global economic crisis, and we must move on from the political turbulence of the last two months. We’ve got to get this choice right. Rishi has stewarded our economy through very tough times, including the pandemic. His track record of delivery and sound judgement should give confidence to voters, to businesses, and to markets.
He voted to leave the EU and he is committed to delivering the benefits of being and independent country again, including reform of regulatory rules inherited from Europe and fixing the Northern Ireland Protocol. As MPs who campaigned for Brexit, and steadfastly resisted attempts to reverse it, we have sought and been given assurances of Rishi’s determination to safeguard it.
His top priorities are helping people with the cost of living, protecting the most vulnerable, building a sustainably lower tax economy that delivers growth and prosperity, protecting our precious natural environment, keeping our Union together, and continuing to be Ukraine’s staunchest ally.
He will do all he can to bring unity back to the Conservative Party, drawing in talent and ideas from all of its traditions. He now has support from right across the spectrum of views in the Conservative Parliamentary Party, including popular former leadership candidate, Kemi Badenoch.
We can’t afford to go back. We have to look to the future. Rishi is our best chance of rebuilding support for the Conservatives and our best chance of winning the next election.
I backed him in the last leadership election and I am backing him again in this one. I am urging all Conservative MPs and party members to do the same."
