My congratulations to Liz Truss on becoming leader of the Conservative Party and our next Prime Minister. It is a great testament to the Conservative Party that this is our third female Prime Minister, no other party has achieved this.  

It was a tough and comprehensive campaign run by both candidates and particular thanks must go to Rishi Sunak for the honourable and concerted campaign he ran. Now, as I said from the outset, we must all come together and unite behind the new Prime Minister and concentrate on the issues that really matter in this challenging time.

My focus continues to be on Taunton Deane and ensuring the right support is in place to help both households and businesses to weather rising energy prices and the wider cost of living crisis. I am calling on our new Prime Minister to urgently give a clear indication of what more can be done in addition to supports already in place.