The comments made by Helen Grant, the Conservative MP for Maidstone and The Weald, on Twitter on 22 October 2022.
I’m backing Rishi Sunak again. He has the economic and organisational competence and experience to bring financial stability to the UK and restore our global reputation. He’s a great communicator with vision and gravitas and he will unite the Conservatives to deliver for our great country.
The comments made by Johnny Mercer, the Conservative MP for Plymouth Moor View, on Twitter on 22 October 2022.
I was one of Boris’ earliest backers last time. He’s a friend and I love him to bits. But I just don’t think I can put us through all that again. We must move forward in a calm, professional, competent manner with Rishi Sunak as our PM. Country first.
The comments made by Aaron Bell, the Conservative MP for Newcastle under Lyme, on Twitter on 22 October 2022.
I’m backing Rishi Sunak.
The comments made by Scott Benton, the Conservative MP for Blackpool South, on Twitter on 22 October 2022.
I have now formally nominated Boris Johnson for the leadership of the Conservative Party which, if successful, will lead to his being our next Prime Minister.
The comments made by Ben Everitt, the Conservative MP for Milton Keynes North, on Twitter on 22 October 2022.
We need experience and resilience. In the national interest I am backing Boris Johnson.
The comments made by Priti Patel, the Conservative MP for Witham, on Twitter on 22 October 2022.
Boris [Johnson] has the mandate to deliver our elected manifesto and a proven track record getting the big decisions right. I’m backing him in the leadership contest.
The comments made by Bill Cash, the Conservative MP for Stone, on Twitter on 21 October 2022.
I’m backing Boris Johnson and call on others to do so now. Action this day!
The comments made by Doug Beattie, the Leader of the Ulster Unionists, on 20 October 2022.
Back in July as Boris Johnson was preparing to leave office, I said that the United Kingdom needs strong, stable Government and that this was especially the case with regard to Northern Ireland in the absence of the devolved institutions.
Three months on, another Prime Minister is about to depart and nothing has changed. If anything the situation is even worse in terms of the cost of living crisis and uncertainty caused by the Northern Ireland Protocol.
Whoever emerges as Prime Minister, he or she needs to devote some time to restoring devolved Government in Northern Ireland and reverse the damage done to the Belfast Agreement by the NI Protocol. That will not be facilitated by an Assembly Election – at the cost of £6.5M – a mere five months after the last one, because such an Election will not resolve the issues around the Protocol.
I would therefore urge the present Prime Minister to act now to ensure that an Assembly Election is not called until a new Prime Minister is in place; a new Secretary of State for Northern Ireland appointed and that the new Secretary of State has time to engage with the political parties in order to work in the best interests of Northern Ireland.
The speech made by Sir Jeffrey Donaldson, the Leader of the DUP, on 21 October 2022.
Devolution can only flourish when there is a solid foundation with cross-community support. I want to see fully functioning devolved government restored in Stormont but that can only happen when the Protocol is replaced by arrangements that unionists can support. No unionist MLAs or MPs support the Protocol. That, as I warned 18 months ago, is not compatible with a functioning Executive.
The Protocol rubble needs removed if the devolved government foundations are to be stabilised. You can’t proceed with powersharing, if one community is not on board. It doesn’t work.
The Protocol has polluted every area of government. As we try to fix our NHS, the Protocol is jeopardising the supply of medicines to Northern Ireland. As we try to improve our infrastructure, the Protocol has triggered a costly 25% tariff on the steel used to build our schools, roads, hospitals, and houses. As we try to help people with the cost of living, the Protocol is driving up transport costs and the prices on our shelves. As we encourage people to install green energy, Treasury tax breaks are not available in Northern Ireland because of the Protocol.
When a new Prime Minister is in place, if they want to see a fully functioning Stormont, they will have to deal with the Protocol once and for all. Short term fixes will be a disservice to Northern Ireland. That has been tried in the past. Everyone in Northern Ireland disserves a solution which can allow Stormont Ministers to get on with their job and make Northern Ireland a better place.
The comments made by Matt Hancock, the Conservative MP for West Suffolk, on Twitter on 21 October 2022.
I have worked incredibly closely with Boris, Rishi and Penny in Government. I admire all three With the challenges we face today: economic crisis & the need to restore authoritative leadership, Rishi Sunak is the best person to lead our country I’m voting Rishi and hope you do too.
