THE LAST few weeks of the Parliamentary term are usually a time when politics slows down and debates focus on less controversial, more technical aspects of legislation before the recess.
I was proud to back Sajid Javid, a local Worcestershire MP in the early stages of this contest and after he was knocked out in the fourth round I felt it was right for members to have their say in the final choice.
On Tuesday we discovered that Boris Johnson won with a strong two thirds vote. This national result is very similar to the one we had earlier in the contest, during a local husting in Worcester.
With the contest now over, it is the job of all MPs in the party to come together, to unite around the winner and to ensure we can deliver on our promises as a Government.
Securing Brexit and delivering on the outcome of the EU referendum must be first and foremost but it also means delivering a strong domestic agenda across the NHS, schools, policing and the economy.
Both candidates have laid claim to the one nation conservative mantle and whether as a minister or a backbencher I will be striving to hold our next PM to that.
Meanwhile in Worcester it has been a pleasure to get out and knock doors in the Claines by-election.
The sad and sudden loss of Stuart Denlegh Maxwell came as a shock to the whole community but in Jules Benham, who has been out knocking on doors actively throughout the campaign he has a worthy, local, successor.
Having lobbied hard to get the extra children’s hospice funding that the Department of Health have now confirmed, I am delighted this has contributed and pleased to see local businesses such as SJL insurance already doing their bit to help the Acorns Hospice in Worcester.
Over the Summer I am planning to launch a competition to celebrate our independent businesses. I hope helping the High Street will also be a priority for our next Prime Minister.
