I am delighted to have been appointed as the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster by the new Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak, and to have the opportunity to play a part in the Government.

I am already getting to grips with the many opportunities and challenges that lie ahead. And we do face some difficult weeks and months, I know that many people locally feel anxious about the future.

Britain is still suffering from the aftershocks of a global pandemic, and Putin’s war in Ukraine has compounded the Covid shock, disrupting supply chains and energy security the world over – conspiring to create the perfect global economic storm. We require expert stewardship to guide us through this turbulent period safely.

The new Prime Minister has been clear that mistakes were made, and that this Government will fix them.

Having known the Prime Minister for many years - in fact he stood to be the Conservative candidate for Hertsmere at the same time as me - I  can think of no one better suited for taking on this enormous challenge.

Rishi Sunak has integrity, decency, and capability to lead our country. He will take the tough decisions and do whatever it takes to return our economy to surer footing. He has been consistently honest about the scale of the challenge we face and has shown tremendous foresight towards our economic problems.

He also shares my belief in hard work and aspiration, and a commitment to family and community. These values I know that are central to our community.

I look forward to supporting the Prime Minister in my new role as he steers our country through the difficult months ahead. As ever, I will be guided by the interests of our local community and will continue to uphold my first duty, which is to serve you as your MP.