Herefordshire MPs welcome Liz Truss’ appointment

Both of Herefordshire’s Conservative MPs have welcomed the appointment today of Liz Truss as party leader and next Prime Minister.

Ms Truss and her opponent Rishi Sunak spoke at Ledbury Rugby Club at the start of last month to make a pitch for the votes of local party members.

North Herefordshire MP Sir Bill Wiggin attended, before giving his backing to Ms Truss.

“Both are friends and colleagues, but I based my decision on Liz Truss’s plans for the country, how they would affect Herefordshire, and also on the views of my constituents,” Sir Bill said.

“Now she has to deliver on the issues she has talked about, such as inflation, food, energy and strikes. I am looking forward to seeing her hit the ground running on these, and also who she appoints to her cabinet.”

He added: “Here in Herefordshire we have seen huge increases in the price of fertiliser as well as food, which farmers will have to pass on, and also demands for a cleaner and greener environment.

“As a former Defra [Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs] secretary and member for a rural constituency [South West Norfolk], she understands the challenges the countryside faces.”

Hereford and South Herefordshire MP Jesse Norman, who gave his support to Ms Truss in a Telegraph opinion piece last week, said: “I warmly congratulate Liz Truss on her appointment as Prime Minister. She has rightly pledged herself and her administration to ‘delivery, delivery, delivery’.

“As the new government focuses on the critical issues of energy prices, the cost of living and the need to support Ukraine in the face of Russian aggression, I hope it will also address vital local concerns, such as cleaning up the river Wye and investing in the long-term growth and prosperity of Herefordshire.

“These will continue to be at the top of my own priorities.”

Mr Norman’s Telegraph piece called for the Tories to “champion consumers over producers”, saying the “1970s problems are facing the UK again need Thatcherite solutions”.

Representatives of Herefordshire Council’s ruling Independents for Herefordshire/Greens coalition were approached for comment.