General Election may be needed in a few months says Welsh Secretary
Aled Thomas, local democracy reporter
Welsh Secretary Robert Buckland has said that a General Election may be needed in a few months, despite one not being legally required until January 2025.
Sir Robert Buckland who is the MP for South Swindon told his Local Democracy Reporting Service reporter that he could see a new Prime Minister seeking a fresh mandate once winter is over.
“What the new Prime Minister, whoever it is, must do is deliver on the 2019 manifesto, and we must start delivering on the priorities of the British people and get through this difficult winter,” he said.
“There is an argument that we might have an election after the winter – which would be getting on for four years of this parliament anyway, which is how most used to last before the Fixed Terms Parliament Act, which has now been repealed.”
Robert Buckland was speaking in the moments immediately after Prime Minister Liz Truss’s resignation announcement.
As he digested the news that the woman who had kept him on as Welsh Secretary would be gone within a week, Robert Buckland said: “Stability is important.
“The chancellor’s announcement on Monday settled the financial markets and that calm has carried on, but a political storm broke out. And by announcing that she’s stepping down the prime Minister has acted to try and stabilise that.
“What I want to see now is a team captain become party leader and Prime Minister and lead a united team so we can continue to stabilise the difficult situation and deliver on the priorities of the British people.
“The work of government goes on and it must go on. We must put the country first and act in the national interest.”
Robert Buckland decided to switch his support from Rishi Sunak to Liz Truss during the leadership contest in the summer and subsequently kept his place as Welsh Secretary.
Rishi Sunak is now the bookies’ favourite to become Prime Minister when the Conservative leadership contest concludes next week.
The previous Welsh Secretary, Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire MP Simon Hart, has maintained his support for Rishi Sunak across both leadership contests.
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‘Stability is important’ (heartfelt understatement, suggest’s a dry sense of humour) but so is the ability to weave your way up the greasy ladder of politics…
General Election is needed NOW for the good of the “country”. However, I understand the desperate need for the Tories to try an scrabble their way out of the shameful mess they have put us all in. Tories do – after all – famously put their own self-interest over the good of the Union every. single. time. Still, failing that, we, the freedom loving people of Cymru, are happy for the Union to eat itself. It may wake up our other countryfolk from their Unionist slumber. Just don’t go destroying OUR stuff Tories. We’ll be taking it with us when… Read more »
Buckland’s decision to defect from Sunak to Truss in the Tory leadership campaign has not stood the test of time. Sunak’s description of Truss’s fairytale economic plans were spot on. Might not be the the right guy to take much notice of when navigating the tough times ahead.
I don’t think anyone does. Not here, not in Wasteminster.
It’s an “honorary” role with no purpose nor power. It’s a sop to lickspittle Tories (Labour don’t have the role) whose bosses need to reward them, but don’t respect them. A participation badge for the special and incompetent. “Well done for trying”
I quite agree Robert Buckland. Then when can get rid of smug Anglophiles like you from office who do such a disservice to the people of Wales.
So currently the next election does not have to take place until January 2025, which means the election after that won’t have to happen until 2030. In other words the next election would be the only election to happen in this entire decade.
Just read elsewhere that out going P.M’s get a lifetime payment of £ 115k per annum and this Truss dame is in line for such an award! Very bloody rewarding especially when it’s an episode of utter failure. I’d fine her a big lump just for being a stupid bitch.
Yet always willing to serve the hapless and incompetent pay master
Truss