Fenland councillors write letter to Prime Minister Rishi Sunak over their ‘loss of confidence’ in him
Thirty councillors have written a scathing letter to Rishi Sunak warning him to “turn his words into real actions” or risk a terminal loss of confidence.
Members of Fenland District Council’s Conservative group have sent a letter to the Prime Minister detailing the “loss of confidence” they have had in him and the Government after events this week at Westminster – which have left them with “grave concerns”.
A dramatic week has resulted in the sacking of Suella Braverman as Home Secretary after she defied Downing Street over an article accusing the Metropolitan Police of bias in the policing of protests.
The councillors believe that Ms Braverman’s dismissal, without promoting others of similar views, gives the impression that the Conservatives are rowing back on the commitments they made in 2019, when it promised to uphold the will of the people as expressed in the Brexit referendum in 2016.
In the letter, signed by 30 councillors – including leader Cllr Chris Boden – they have called on the Government to turn its words into “real actions” from this week.
This came after the Government’s flagship plan to send illegal asylum seekers to Rwanda was deemed unlawful by the Supreme Court on Wednesday.
Mr Sunak has since vowed to push through emergency legislation to make the proposals legal.
Fenland councillors wrote: “We don’t all share the same opinions on all subjects. But we are united in our grave concern at events this week at Westminster.
“Without such decisive and immediate action now that the Supreme Court has published its ruling, there will be a real danger of a terminal loss of confidence in the Government and in you as Prime Minister.
“We have reached a critical point where your promise as Prime Minister to ‘do whatever it takes’ needs to be translated into positive action to deliver what the majority of voters want.”
The council has also urged the Prime Minister to fulfil the five promises that he made earlier this year. These were to halve inflation, grow the economy, reduce debt as a proportion of GDP, cut NHS waiting lists, and to stop the small boats.
They added: “And it is that final pledge, to stop the small boats, where you and the new Home Secretary (MP James Cleverly) will have your first opportunity to prove that the pledges made are going to be honoured.
“Politics should be about policies, not personalities. Government is about getting results, not just playing to the gallery.”
Some MPs believe Ms Braverman could be a “force to be reckoned with” after being sacked by Mr Sunak, due to the impact she can have from the backbenches.
The Fenland councillors’ letter adds: “We are concerned that you have dismissed Suella Braverman from the Government.
“Whilst we don’t all necessarily support her personally, we do believe that she has been the loudest and clearest voice in your Cabinet on subjects such as anti-semitism, protecting our borders, maintaining the existing gender protection legislation and opposing the woke agenda.”
