Simon Fell has said Rishi Sunak is the ‘only qualified candidate’ to replace Liz Truss.
The Conservative MP for Barrow and Furness has backed Sunak in his party’s leadership race following Liz Truss’ resignation on Thursday morning.
He said: “I have tremendous respect and sympathy for Liz Truss – anyone who puts themselves forward for the job of Prime Minister is tested by challenges that most of us can’t appreciate, and is constantly under public, and often gratuitous, scrutiny.
“This cannot be an easy time for her at all, but I give her credit for realising when things were going wrong, and being pragmatic enough to appoint Jeremy Hunt as Chancellor, and then to step down.”
Talking about who should be elected as the next prime minister, Fell added: “I believe that Rishi Sunak is the only candidate qualified to take the country forward. He is tried and tested, has huge experience, and can provide the honesty and stability that people want.
“Right now we need to see the Government working tirelessly for our constituents – helping them through the cost of living crisis, and getting on with our manifesto commitment to level up. That’s what we were elected to do, and I think Rishi is best placed to calm the waters and get on with that task.”
The leadership contest is set to conclude on Friday October 28. This will allow a new prime minister to be in office in time for the Medium-Term Fiscal Plan on October 31.
