Following two weeks of frantic competition and voting we now know who the final two candidates are in the Conservative Party leadership election will be. This decision matters not only to the Party but to the country as the winner will become our next Prime Minister. It is now up to Conservative Party members to make the final decision.
From very early in the contest I have made clear my backing for Rishi Sunak. I am pleased that he has made it into the final two and will now have an opportunity to share his vision with the country.
As a Member of Parliament Rishi represents a Northern constituency. He appreciates the challenges we face and the need to continue investment in communities across Fylde. As Chancellor he had a strong record of delivering what was needed, whether that be the funding for big infrastructure projects or vital cash to protect jobs and skills at the Springfields nuclear fuels manufacturing plant. Rishi recognises the importance of driving forward our investment in new nuclear and what that means for workers here in Fylde who have a unique part to play in bolstering the UKs energy security for generations to come.
In recent days he has set out clear goals on defence spending, which in turn benefits the thousands of people working at BAE Systems in Warton as well as making clear statements of intent on immigration and on our relationship with China. These are big decisions which have real implication for us all.
As Chancellor Rishi led our country through uncharted economic waters, providing unprecedented levels of support to businesses and families during the pandemic. He took decisions no others could and fought for packages which helped protect millions of jobs, including many here in Fylde. The pandemic and our response has, of course, come with a price and only now are we realising the extend of the long-term economic impact. Tackling the cost of living crisis is important, but we must do so responsibly. Rishi has made clear his immediate focus would be on bringing down inflation, stopping the price rises which have seen us all hit so hard in the pocket. Families and businesses need help that is real and realistic and I believe that Rishi’s track record on delivery speaks for itself.
Back here in Fylde I met with the chief executive of Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust to discuss the latest Care Quality Commission report. It continues to make difficult reading and I have seen first-hand the pressures A&E staff are under. There are some big issues to resolve but I am pleased to hear plans are in place, not only to deliver a £1.5m investment in staffing but to deal with big issues such as discharge delays, which have a real impact on the day to day running of the hospital. Making sure social care packages are available to support the discharge process is a crucial piece of the jigsaw and one I have made clear to Ministers needs to be a priority.
With big developments, such as the Emergency Village, change is underway at the hospital. I want to do all I can to ensure the team get the funding and support they need to deliver for the people of Fylde.