This week I thought I would focus on the Conservative Party
Leadership contest, which will also determine who is our next Prime Minister.
As I have previously said, I supported Mark Harper in the
first round of voting to be the next leader of the Conservative Party. I did so
because I believed he has the character, abilities and experience to do the job
in these challenging times.
Disappointingly not enough of my colleagues shared my view
and Mark failed to get through the first round. I am proud to have been a part
of his campaign team and believe he will have a great deal to offer the new
government.
I then needed to now consider who I would back in the
coming rounds of voting. This is something to which I gave a great deal of
thought. I listened to each of the candidates as well as discussing with my
team, other colleagues and local party members.
One thing I think needs to be made clear is that my role in
this is as a member of the Conservative Parliamentary Party. Conservative MPs
select the candidates down to the final two and then the party members vote for
their preferred candidate to be leader. This is not a decision whereby I am
representing our constituency as the MP. Therefore, whilst I will of course
always listen to the views of local people, it is not a decision I make to
represent our constituency but one I make as a Conservative.
I am acutely aware that whatever choice I made, I will
please some and displease others. I must decide what I believe is right and
best for our country and our constituency, knowing I cannot please everyone.
As I looked at the remaining candidates, any one of them
would have made a very good leader and Prime Minister in different times. But
these are not normal times. We are living in uniquely challenging political
times. We face a political crisis. Not only in delivering Brexit but the very
real threat of an extreme left-wing government under Jeremy Corbyn.
Therefore, the choice of who to back needs to be taken in
that context. We need someone with the abilities to meet the challenges of the
hour, who can inspire and lead our party and country; who has the best chance
of not only delivering Brexit but of beating Jeremy Corbyn and securing a
Conservative Government for the years ahead. Someone who has a positive vision
of our country outside the EU.
Having carefully considered all the candidates it was clear
to me that there was one who stands out, who has the abilities we need to meet
the challenges of our time. Boris Johnson.
Having spoken with him at length last week, I am convinced
that he is the best person to lead us out of the current situation. I also
questioned him at length on several issues specifically relevant to Cornwall
and I am assured of his commitment to address the needs, concerns and desires
we share for our Duchy, including recognising our unique identity and
challenges.
So in the final rounds of MPs voting I supported Boris
Johnson and was pleased to see that in the final round he secured the support
of a clear majority of Conservative MPs. The second place candidate was Jeremy
Hunt and these two will now go on the ballot paper for Conservative Party
members to vote in the coming weeks.
Both Jeremy and Boris have many qualities that will make
then very good Prime Ministers. However, for similar reasons as to why I
supported Boris in the final rounds of MPs voting I believe that he has the
qualities we need in the current situation.
So, going forward in this leadership campaign I will be
giving my full support to Boris. However, I also believe that we need to have a
full and robust process. Boris needs to win the right to be our new leader and
so I trust that we are able to have a full and open debate in our Party about
the future of our country and that the members of the Conservative Party are
able to vote to make the final choice of our new leader knowing what each of
the candidates stands for and will deliver for our country.
