Dear Reigate Association Member,

You will be receiving your ballot papers to discharge the greatest privilege your party membership brings, to choose out next Prime Minister. Like many of you, I wish we weren't faced with this choice, but as Boris put it, the herd moved and thus we are now faced with this choice, like it or not.

So as a remaining loyal Boris Johnson supporter I want to explain why it is my strong recommendation we vote for Rishi Sunak to be our next Prime Minister. I respect his intellect, the quality of his analysis, his decency and humanity. I respect his thirst for knowledge and his capacity to learn. I respect that Rishi’s intellect is allied to humility, not arrogance, and people skills of a rare order even in frontline politics. I respect his courage, demonstrated in facing down the leadership position on the 2016 Brexit Referendum. I respect his originality of mind in carrying the nation through the pandemic with economic measures that were then much copied around the world.

I recognise that he is the opponent Labour truly fear at the next election. Being demonstrably cleverer and nicer than Keir Starmer will be a huge advantage for us as we face the toughest of elections.

I will feel safer if Rishi Sunak is the next Prime Minister. I make this point disinterestedly, having already announced that I will not be seeking re-election at the next General Election. Whilst I mourn the loss of Boris, I do want to feel confidence in the future. These are my personal views, necessarily in summary. Whether they are any form of useful guidance for you is of course a matter for you.

I would encourage you to watch the video of William Hague on his successor in Richmond, who makes the case for Rishi Sunak far more eloquently than I do.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DAgtEPZW9L8&t=12s

Thank you for taking the time to read this.

Yours ever,

Crispin