OPINION: Why I’m backing Liz Truss to be our next PM
The foreign secretary's dealings with Iran over the release of Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe make her alive to the true nature of that regime, argues Mike Freer MP
The battle for the leadership of the Conservative Party and next leader of our country is in its final phase as ballot papers are being delivered.
The final two are both highly capable but offer a different outlook on how to steer the UK economy through the turbulence that is impacting countries across the globe, as we all battle the costs of the pandemic and the economic shockwaves caused by the war in Ukraine. Much is made of the choice between ‘sound money’ or ‘going for growth’.
Sound money is exceptionally important, as any Conservative believes, but households and businesses know books can only be balanced by growing income or reducing expenditure. This time, no-one is arguing for austerity or spending cuts. In fact people want more spent on the NHS (to clear the covid caused backlogs and fix social care), more on defence and more to help families with energy bills.
So if we won’t reduce spending and we worry about taxing growth out of the system, then we need to be bold. Putting money in people’s pockets, by cancelling tax rises, can help drive economic growth.
Cutting taxes paid by companies can drive investment and create jobs. Liz Truss is prepared to be bold. Pump priming the economy is being done by our competitors. Liz knows that supply side reform can boost growth and as a former trade secretary she knows overseas trade can boost the sales line of UK plc too.
Going for growth, to boost national income is a sensible strategy and preferable to steady stagnation.
It isn’t just on ‘going for growth’ that Liz is right. On domestic issues I know Liz cherishes our long history of religious freedoms. These freedoms include the ability to send children to faith schools, to observe whatever faith we follow. Having attended a comprehensive school in Leeds, she understands the value of education on social mobility and in providing the skills our economy needs.
She knows that education is the ladder to success, faith-based schools tend to outperform, as well as maintaining the ethos of the community’s faith.
That mixed economy of good state schools, faith and non-faith is a fundamental part of our education offering.
She knows from her time at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how vigilant we must be to protect shechita. Outright attempts to ban arise regularly but luckily are repeatedly rejected by previous PMs. Liz would be no different.
Working with her as foreign secretary I know the enormous value she places on our relationship with Israel.
Only those at the highest levels of government will know the true depth of the security relationship between our two countries. As someone committed to the defence of the UK and to facing down aggressors, she cherishes the UK/Israeli relationship.
Liz’s dealings with the Iranian regime over the release of Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe will have made her more aware than most, of the true nature of the Iranian regime and the threat to stability in the Middle East the regime poses.
The UK will be a critical friend to Israel, but Liz’s understanding and experience of the depth and complexities of the relationship will ensure we will be at Israel’s side.
Finally, as a junior minister I worked with Liz. Robust debate and clear decisions making was her hallmark backed by clear delivery expectations.
That’s what we need in a PM.
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