My statement on the Prime Minister's resignation

This morning, Keir Starmer announced his resignation as Prime Minister and Leader of the Labour Party. I believe that he will be able to look back at his time in government and be proud of its achievements. Our economy is growing faster, inflation is under control and average wages are up. NHS waiting lists are falling rapidly, as is net migration, and significant extra funding has come to help fix our schools, hospitals, roads and communities - like the £20 million we secured for Cotmanhay.

With that said, I agree with Keir, that he is no longer the person best placed to lead our country. No matter what your politics, I think that we are all sick and tired of the constant political manoeuvring and endless speculation that has too often consumed Westminster and the British media. For my part, I’ve been trying to get on with the job. My focus has always been on working hard for Erewash, and that won’t change, regardless of who the Prime Minister is.

As to what happens next, I’ll be watching very closely, just like all of you. We all know that, despite notable progress, Britain still needs to be fixed. The economy needs to work better for ordinary people - families, pensioners and the workers whose efforts keep our country running. Regarding prospective candidates: I know many of my fellow Labour MPs have strong records of hard work, public service and delivery, and I am sure the right person to be our next prime minister will soon be forthcoming. As always, I’ll keep striving to make sure that your voices are heard at Westminster.