Resigning ministerial office isn’t easy. It means leaving behind important projects which are serving the national interest. It also means saying goodbye to talented civil servants who you’ve developed a close working relationship with. It is disruptive to the daily business of government, much of which goes on behind the scenes, and creates added work for officials.
But in common with many colleagues, I reached the view that trust had irretrievably broken down, and our country needed a fresh start.
That is particularly urgent given the scale of the challenges we face as a nation. After colossal expenditure during the worst of the pandemic, when over £380m was provided to Cheltenham alone, we are now spending more than £80bn a year on debt interest. That’s more than we allocate to schools, police or defence. Meanwhile, a global inflationary storm has struck our country.
Inflation hits the poorest in society the hardest, so it’s essential that the next Prime Minister prioritises getting it under control. Failure to do so will mean interest rates ticking up, harming homeowners and businesses seeking to invest. That’s why I’m supporting Rishi Sunak. He gets it. And in addition to being one of the cleverest people I’ve ever met, he is thoughtful and sincere. But whoever wins must put the economy first. It’s the only way to secure a bright future for Cheltenham, and the strong public services we need.
One bonus of leaving office is being able to speak out once again in parliamentary debates, which you’re not allowed to do as a minister. I’ve missed that hugely, and I look forward to raising publicly once again the causes I’m passionate about for Cheltenham – like social mobility and attracting even more investment into our economy, schools and local NHS – to improve the lives of people living here.
Thank you for the many hundreds of kind messages I have received in recent days. I’ve read them all, and they are greatly appreciated.
[Column first published in the Glos Echo]