CONSERVATIVE party members in Wellington had the opportunity this week to meet former Chancellor Rishi Sunak, one of the two candidates to be the country’s next Prime Minister.

Mr Sunak stopped off to meet Wellington branch members on Monday (August 1) when travelling to an evening hustings in Exeter.

He was invited to break the journey by Wellington MP Rebecca Pow, who is supporting Mr Sunak’s campaign to become Conservative Party leader.

The informal gathering was an opportunity for Mr Sunak to chat one-to-one with party members whose votes will decide whether he, or Foreign Secretary Liz Truss, will become PM.

Mr Sunak spoke about his background and family and answered questions on issues ranging from the mental health of Service veterans to the cost-of-living crisis to the need to shake up the NHS.

He told members: “Most people are not ideological. What they want is a government that works properly and with decency and morals. That is what I will give them.”

Wellington branch deputy chairman political John Thorne said: “I am sure whomever wins the vote between Rishi and Liz Truss will make an excellent Prime Minister for our country.

“Locally, members are quite split in whom they are supporting and while I am in the Rishi camp I know there are many others who are backing Liz.

“So, Rishi’s visit was a brilliant opportunity for grass roots members like myself and others to meet him in person and not just hear what he has to say but also to look him in the eye and shake his hand to help make up their minds about him.

“We are grateful to Rebecca Pow for persuading Rishi to pop across to see us. It is not every day you get to meet somebody who may be about to lead the country.”