Rishi Sunak "warmly received" in Masham

Rishi Sunak “warmly received” in Masham

Last updated Jul 25, 2022

Rishi Sunak was warmly received at a hustings in Masham yesterday as he tried to garner support to become the next Conservative party leader and Prime Minister.

Mr Sunak took questions from a crowd of more than a hundred party members at the Black Sheep Brewery. He was asked about a wide range of issues from local farming to China.

Mr Sunak is in the final stages of a leadership contest with foreign secretary Liz Truss, to become the next Conservative leader and Prime Minister.

Both need the votes of Conservative party members. Mr Sunak, so far, is behind in the polls.

Amongst those present at the hustings in Masham was Ripon and Skipton MP, Julian Smith and Harrogate and Knaresborough MP, Andrew Jones. Both are backing Mr Sunak.

Mr Smith tweeted after the event:

Great to welcome @RishiSunak to a packed @BlackSheepBeer in #masham today. Excellent feedback from @conservatives members across North Yorkshire #Ready4Rishi pic.twitter.com/aCY9s3gZy2

— Julian Smith MP (@JulianSmithUK) July 24, 2022

Chris Brown, a former Harrogate Borough councillor, asked Mr Sunak a question about the serious problems facing farming – particularly the issue of volatile prices.

He was happy with Mr Sunak’s answer:

“He said he’d been on a diary farm and a pig farm and had actually worked not just visited. I was impressed by that. He’d done more than just homework. I was impressed that he had an understanding of farming.”

Mr Brown though said he remained undecided about who to vote for and was waiting to hear from Liz Truss who he thought would also visit the region.

Mr Sunak’s campaign has centred on not lowering taxes in the short term to curb inflation. Another attendee, Nick Brown, conservative councillor on both Harrogate Borough Council and North Yorkshire County Council, said he felt many there agreed with this approach:

“I think there were a fair number there who were predisposed towards him. Sound money is what’s really important, keeping a check on inflation.

“The majority of younger people won’t remember the 1970s – I had to pay 19% interest on my mortgage! People do not understand how inflation can cripple families.”