The first thing I would like to say is to apologise to all the residents of Harlow and the villages for what has gone on over the past few weeks.
Liz Truss has made the right decision by resigning. We are waiting to see the final details of the process going forwards, but it looks like there will be a new Prime Minister in place very soon.
I will continue to do all I can to work hard for Harlow residents in Parliament to help cut the cost of living, champion education, skills, and apprentices, support the development of more affordable housing, and build an even better Harlow.
The Chancellor Jeremy Hunt has already set in train measures to do everything possible to bear down on inflation and interest rates. And despite everything that has gone on, I am glad that there will be an energy price freeze for all households until Spring next year. After April, this will then be targeted to provide support to those most in need. Alongside this, there is also a £400 payment being made to all Harlow households, and up to £1,200 of support will be going to the most vulnerable to help with the difficulties faced over this winter period.
Harlow residents will know that I did not vote for Liz Truss as Leader because I was worried about the impacts of her economic policies. Instead, I supported Rishi Sunak because I felt his policies would be better in terms of cutting our national debt, and, at the same time, providing the financial support to help people with the cost of living.
As has been widely reported in the national media, I challenged the Prime Minister face-to-face in a meeting last week because I was concerned about the direction of travel her Government was taking and wanted things to be put right. I also did some interviews and wrote an article in the Times which you can see on my Twitter page.
I recognise that this has been a worrying time for everyone, and that this will be the last chance for the Government. Whoever becomes leader, must work to win back the trust of the public.
