PRIME Minister Liz Truss has been urged by her former Parliamentary Private Secretary and Worcester’s MP Robin Walker to tackle the cost-of-living crisis with ‘immediate’ help to tackle soaring energy bills.
Ms Truss replaced Boris Johnson and became the country’s 56th Prime Minister on Tuesday (September 6) following an audience with the Queen at Balmoral. She is expected to make tackling the spectre of rising bills the main focus of her Government with a £100billion plan to freeze prices.
Mr Walker, a prominent supporter of Mr Sunak, congratulated the Prime Minister on her victory but said she needed a ‘relentless focus on delivery’ and ‘rapid action on the cost-of-living’.
Worcester’s MP vowed to support his party’s new leader who he worked for when she was Environment Secretary from 2014 to 2016 and hailed her victory as ‘decisive’.
“I am proud our party has set out a wealth of talent over the course of this campaign and I sincerely congratulate both the candidates on the strong case they made and the tens of thousands of votes they received,” he said.
“Although this was a more closely contested election than some of the pundits predicted, it has shown there are clear priorities which are shared – supporting the economy, tackling inflation, helping people rapidly ahead of the winter, cutting tax and standing up for the UK in a challenging world.”
Mr Walker urged the new Prime Minister to ensure help with energy bills reached consumers and businesses in Worcester ‘as fast as possible’.
“I am clear on what the priorities are for my constituents and I am glad these were echoed in the new leader’s opening statement – help with the cost of living, supporting our NHS and boosting growth in the economy,” he said.
“The broad church which is the Conservative party needs to bring all of its talents to this task. It is vital our new PM can hit the ground running and she deserves the support of the whole party in doing so.”
Malvern’s MP Harriett Baldwin, who supported Penny Mordaunt during the campaign, praised Ms Truss for becoming only the third female Prime Minister.
“There are some very major challenges to address in the coming days, weeks and months with the fast-rising cost of living, a global economic and climate crisis and the continued war in Ukraine,” the West Worcestershire MP said.
“I wish her all the best and hope she will bring the party and the country together as we work to deliver for the people of the UK and for West Worcestershire.”
