Chris Clarkson publicly backs Rishi Sunak for next PM

Chris Clarkson, the MP for Heywood and Middleton, has publicly announced he is backing Rishi Sunak to become the next Conservative leader and Prime Minister.

The former chancellor of the exchequer, who resigned on 5 July, is one of two Parliamentary candidates in the running to become leader alongside Foreign Secretary Liz Truss, after Boris Johnson agreed to stand down.

Outgoing Prime Minister Johnson agreed to stand down as Prime Minister in time for a new leader to be in place by the Conservative Party conference in October.

In a Twitter post on Thursday 21 July, Mr Clarkson said: “I’m backing Rishi to be our next Prime Minister.

“We need a tested leader who recognises the challenges ahead of us and will be honest about how we overcome them – Rishi has that plan and I trust him to deliver.”

 

I'm backing @RishiSunak to be the next leader of the Conservatives and our next Prime Minister.
If you're a member or a supporter get involved https://t.co/c5BMcuk1AX#ReadyForRishi pic.twitter.com/0AX816HtHR

— Chris Clarkson MP 🇬🇧🇺🇦 (@ChrisClarksonMP) July 21, 2022

 

 

On his website, Mr Sunak says: “I got into politics because I want everyone in this country to have the opportunity to be able to give their children a better future.

“Our country faces huge challenges, the most serious for a generation. Someone has to grip this moment and make the right decisions. Because the choices we make today will decide whether the next generation of British people will have more opportunities than the last.

“We need to restore trust in our politics. We need to rebuild our economy. And we need to reunite the country.

“That’s why I’m standing to be the next leader of the Conservative Party and your Prime Minister.”

 

 

 

Conversely, Ms Truss says she has a plan to make Britain a high-growth economy by cutting taxes and get the country ‘back on track’.

She says: “We need to deliver Brexit and all the opportunities it offers.

“We need to win the fight for freedom at home and across the world.

“That is why I am putting myself forward for the leadership of the Conservative and Unionist Party and for our great country.

“I will campaign as a Conservative and I will govern as a Conservative.

“I can lead, make tough decisions and get things done.

“I am ready to be Prime Minister from day one.”

Qualifying members of the Conservative party will vote for the new party leader and Prime Minister via a postal ballot received at the start of August.

Only those who have been members of the party for at least three months immediately prior to the close of the leadership ballot, so before 3 June this year, are eligible to vote for the new leader.

The vote closes at 5pm on 2 September, with the winner announced on 5 September. That winner will become leader of the Conservative Party and the next Prime Minister.