MP Kevin Foster: My most important role is to be Torbay’s advocate in Westminster

If Andrew Neil’s show 'This Week' was still running, a feature-length edition would have been needed last week.

Within a week not only had the leadership of the Conservative Party changed, but a new Cabinet had been formed and Prime Minister Sunak had taken his first set of Prime Minister’s Questions.

Shortly after Liz Truss announced her resignation, I spoke with Rishi about his campaign, along with members of both his and Boris Johnson’s team.

Following our discussions, I publicly confirmed I would support Rishi for the leadership.

I have respect for the way Boris ensured Ukraine was supported, without it the light of freedom in that nation would have been crushed by Putin.

He also helped end the Brexit deadlock which paralysed politics three years ago and ensured the UK rapidly delivered vaccination against Covid-19.

I am also grateful for the way Boris often listened and delivered for our Bay, such as on the £21.9m Torquay Town Deal, the £13.4m Paignton Future High Streets Fund and the Health Infrastructure Plan for Torbay Hospital which could see up to £350m spent transforming its services.

Yet fresh leadership was needed to deliver the promises our 2019 manifesto set out, rather than a return to the arguments of the first half of this year which brought Boris’ administration down in July

After recent political upheavals, it is vital we now have a period focussed on the issues which matter.

These include supporting people through the cost-of-living crisis, dealing with pressures on the NHS, stopping dangerous small boat crossings, delivering key infrastructure upgrades, providing opportunities for the next generation and tackling climate change.

Leaving Government

After a phone call with the new Prime Minister last week, I left my ministerial post at the Department for Transport.

Having previously held the challenging immigration brief for nearly three years, one of the longest stints in recent times, it was sad to leave a role covering railways, which have always been of interest to me, after just two months.

Yet, the new Prime Minister has the right to pick a team as he sees fit and, given the challenges facing our nation, personal disappointment cannot cloud anyone’s judgment about the need for the Government to be a united team which focuses on the issues affecting our nation.

My most important role is to be our Bay’s advocate in Westminster.

It is a role which is an honour to hold and one I relish, with me having already spoken from the backbenches about bringing jobs to our Bay, with plenty of requests for a question and a few backbench debates already submitted.

Surgery times

My next surgeries are on Saturday, November 5, between 10am and midday at St Martin’s Church, Barton Hill Road, Torquay TQ2 8JA and Friday, November 11, from 3pm to 5pm at 5-7 East Street, Torquay TQ2 5SD.

For an appointment, you can either email me at kevin@kevinjfoster.com or leave a message on 01803 214989.

Surgeries are for personal queries from residents they would like me to help them with, rather than a wider policy debate.

There are also drop-in sessions at my office 5-7 East Street, Torquay TQ2 5SD between 10am and 1pm, Monday to Friday, where a member of my team will be available to help with any queries.