I am delighted that today the Conservative Party has a new Leader and the United Kingdom a new Prime Minster. The process was well fought by both; Rishi Sunak demonstrated the talent and passion he holds and should be incredibly proud of the campaign he led. However, when it came to the candidate in who I would lend my backing, I was in no doubt of my choice, Liz Truss.
I first met Liz whilst serving in the Royal Air Force. I was Community Support Officer at RAF Marham in Norfolk. Liz was the local Member of Parliament and I was very fortunate to meet her. Whilst stationed there, Liz led the ‘Make it Marham’ campaign to ensure that our Station had a successful future. She ran the campaign with such determination that an impression was left on me regarding the impact a Member of Parliament, such as Liz, can have on a community. When serving in the Royal Air Force you do so under four key values: Respect, Integrity, Service and Excellence. These are qualities that I live by, and these are the same values that I believe we have in our next Leader.
Respect: Respect must predominantly be held for the great office of state that our future leader will be entering. I have no doubt that Liz will do so echoing the ‘statesmanlike’ job she has done in all the Ministerial roles in which she has held. Respect must also be gained from those around you. Particularly in these times of political division, a leader who gains the respect of our Conservative colleagues across the Party is vital. Liz has that ability. I have no doubt she will be the unifying force our Party and country desperately need.
Integrity: It is clear to anyone looking that people have lost a sense of trust in politics. We must now earn back this trust, by ensuring we are not only delivering on our commitments but doing so with transparency and integrity. Liz has got on with the task of delivering for the electorate since first being appointed. When the Prime Minister resigned, she was at the G20, standing shoulder to shoulder with our allies in a show of force against Russian aggression. Even when others seemed to be on manoeuvres back home, representing the UK on this platform was rightly her top priority.
Service: During these times whilst dealing with a cost-of-living, it is clear we need a leader with a proven track record and a Cabinet Minister with vast experience in the great offices of state. Liz Truss has consistently demonstrated she is the person to get the job done. During the process of leaving the European Union, as Secretary of State for International Trade, she struck dozens of post-Brexit trade deals that were thought to be unnegotiable notably with Australia and Japan. During this time Liz developed a strong and insightful foreign policy for Britain with focuses on: trade, security, innovation and strengthening ties with old and new allies. In my role as Trade Envoy to the Caribbean, I know how vital our future trading relationships will be for our economic growth and the expansion of emerging markets within the UK.
Excellence: When looking at excellence I would implore anyone to look at her track record. Liz has been a key international figure leading support for Ukraine and ensuring a tough line is held on Russia. She succeeded where countless others failed before in finally ensuring Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe was rightly freed from Iran. As Chief Secretary to the Treasury, she oversaw the largest public sector pay rise in ten years. There are far more achievements, too many to list, that all demonstrate the key quality needed now for our Party – an ability to deliver. She has a difficult job ahead, but I have no doubt she is the right person to lead us through these challenging times that lie ahead.
