Esther McVey MP has written a piece in the Express explaining why she’s agreed to back Jeremy Hunt in the Conservative leadership contest. On the face of it, it’s an unlikely alliance. Not only is McVey a Brexiteer who’s on the right of the party, while Hunt was a Remainer who identifies as a liberal conservative, but McVey has been one of the most vociferous anti-lockdown campaigners of the past two-and-a-half years, whereas Hunt was a lockdown zealot (although he denies that now). However, according to McVey, Hunt has pledged never to reimpose a full lockdown in response to a Covid-style pandemic.
I fully understand that many people will be surprised that I am supporting Jeremy Hunt for the leadership of the Conservative Party and to become Prime Minister.
I am even braced for the inevitable abuse from people saying that I have sold out my principles. Nothing could be further from the truth.
In an article in the Express last week I set out the five priorities that are essential for the Conservative Party and its new leader: 1) Protecting Brexit and ensuring the Northern Ireland Protocol is fixed to protect the integrity of the United Kingdom; 2) cutting taxes whilst living within our means; 3) delivering on the Levelling Up agenda helping to ensure the North is able to maximise its potential; 4) reducing levels of immigration into the UK and sorting out once and for all illegal immigration – especially the dinghies coming over from France; and 5) to ensure we never again have full lockdowns and damaging restrictions in the face of a future covid-style pandemic.
Jeremy Hunt has pledged to accept and deliver on all five of those priorities – so much for anyone who thinks that I am selling out on my principles.
Worth reading in full.
Couple of caveats there, obviously: he’s pledged not to reimpose a full lockdown, meaning he could reimpose mask mandates and vaccine passports, and he’s only ruled out a full lockdown in the face of another Covid-style pandemic, leaving him room to impose a full lockdown in response to an outbreak of another virus. Still, it’s an encouraging sign.
Let’s hope the other candidates make similar pledges as the contest rumbles on. No doubt they’ll be asked the question at the hustings. We’ll keep track of their response.
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