School visits are one of the most enjoyable aspects of my job and engaging with the students is always rewarding. It was a pleasure to see Crawley Down pupils attending the unveiling of a memorial plaque to one of the fallen of the Somme on Friday, followed by a visit to All Saints Primary in Horsham. Even at Primary level pupils are keenly engaged on what the EU Referendum vote means. The temporary “interegnum” as a future Prime Minister is decided has been unsettling for some students, as it has for business. I am glad it is resolved.
Last week I wrote that to my mind the country “needs and wants an experienced and trusted pair of hands”. I am delighted that Theresa May has secured the role. I have worked with her and know her to be a tough and determined negotiator. She is exactly the Prime Minister we need to go to toe to toe with Angela Merkel and engage with Nicola Sturgeon. Few Prime Ministers have had such a complex task at the outset of their Premiership. She takes on critical decisions on our future relationship with Europe but also the task of maintaining our United Kingdom. She is doing so against a backdrop of a Government that, despite huge efforts, still spends £70bn a year more than it is raising in tax.
The UK can and will make a success of the years ahead but this requires considered, purposeful leadership I believe we will get just that from Mrs May. I am also pleased that Andrea Leadsom’s honourable decision not to drag out a leadership contest through the summer has meant that the Government can get on with preparing for our negotiation.
As it does so it will be very focussed on events elsewhere in Europe: German Parliamentary and French Presidential Elections and most importantly an October referendum in Italy could all have a profound impact on how the EU evolves. It is a challenging but exciting time in our history, the UK will need a steely determination to ensure our future prosperity and an ongoing close relationship with our European neighbours in the post Brexit world.