THE PAST few weeks will certainly go down in British political history – but for all the wrong reasons, writes Warwick and Leamington MP Matt Western.
At PMQs last week, I commented that she had enjoyed quite some honeymoon these past five weeks but, following the financial market chaos, the mortgage market mayhem and the run on the pound, the public want divorce! I then suggested that, given the Prime Minister was now “in listening mode”, she should listen to public opinion and give way to a General Election. In fact, two polls have recorded that 60% of the general public are in favour of an immediate general election.
Given the political turmoil of the past few weeks, this should not come as a surprise. The pound reached an all-time low and mortgage rates soared; for the first time ever, the Bank of England intervened in an attempt to rescue not just the economy, but the Government as well. This simply cannot continue.
Had the public voted for this, that would be one matter, but this is a disaster that has been made in Downing Street. The decision to install Liz Truss was left solely to the members of the Tory party – and what a decision that has turned out to be.
Less than half of the Tory membership voted for Truss, but their decision has been imposed on millions of British people. The Tories playing fast and loose with democracy is nothing new – it is startlingly reminiscent of Johnson’s rise to power three years ago.
It’s time for the voice of the British people to be heard.
Elsewhere I was pleased to support a local event to mark Baby Loss Awareness Week. I met with the founders of the charity and local trustees and was impressed by their work.
This week (October 17 to 21) marks colleges week. I would like to commend the work of Warwickshire College and its students and celebrate the skills being taught at its many sites in the region. There are also excellent apprenticeships and degree courses available as well to learners of all ages within the Warwick & Leamington community.
Everyone at the College is committed in their work to support students and help them reach their full potential and I commend this.
