Michael Fabricant latest West Midlands Conservative MP to Declare Who He is Backing

He had previously supported Penny Mordaunt but has now declared who he will support following the TV Debate on BBC

Image Credit: Official Portrait, Parliament

Conservative MP for Lichfield, Michael Fabricant, has declared who he is backing for the Conservative Leadership and next Prime Minister.

Following last night’s debate, Michael said, “The TV debate last night has confirmed my view that Liz is the better candidate for the West Midlands.”

Commenting on Rishi Sunak’s proposals for Government he added, “I fear that when Rishi was Chancellor, he was ‘captured’ by the civil servants into conventional Treasury thinking unable to find a way out of the world-wide cost of living crisis.”

Picking up in Truss’ comments during the BBC Debate last night, he added “Whereas the United States and other countries have decided to borrow in order to fund support for their citizens, Rishi Sunak sticks to the Treasury line calling for greater restraint and higher taxes when times are already tough.  Liz Truss recognises this.”

Fabricant also believes that Sunak’s choices as Chancellor have contributed to the current cost of living crisis. He said, “I also believe that while Rishi’s targeted and generous support for those most needy, provided when he was Chancellor, was welcome, it fuelled inflation. In France and elsewhere, they were less targeted reducing prices at the fuel pump instead”.

Speaking about the need to level-up the West Midlands, Michael added, “But most of all, I believe that while Liz Truss will help the West Midlands, Rishi has concentrated all his focus on the north of England and has not always engaged constructively with the West Midlands Metro Mayor.”

In a thinly veiled sleight at the former Chancellor, he also echoed Truss’ attack line from the TV Debate that to resign at a time of national crisis would be a dereliction of duty as a Senior Cabinet Member: “Liz has been a highly effective Foreign Secretary and Trade Secretary before that, and stayed loyal to Boris until the very end.  She did not precipitate a crisis by resigning nor did she have a campaign pre-prepared including an expensive promotional video released the very day Boris stood down.  She is imaginative and not constrained by Treasury thinking.

“To me character and loyalty count as much as ability and Liz has all three.  She will make an effective Prime Minister, continue to provide support for Ukraine, and make the most of Brexit.  She has my vote!”