Is Ripon MP set for a role in Rishi Sunak’s government?

Julian Smith could be in line for a role in Rishi Sunak’s government, according to reports.

The Skipton and Ripon MP supported the new Prime Minister during the last two Conservative leadership contests.

According to an article on Bloomberg, the former Northern Ireland secretary could now be in line for a role in Mr Sunak’s government.

Bloomberg journalist Alex Whickham tweeted that ‘dark arts specialists’ Mr Smith and Gavin Williamson were set for jobs.

— big role certain for top ally Dowden

— Badenoch tipped for promotion after not fancying DIT

— rising star Claire Coutinho in line for decent job

— talk of Jenrick, Raab return

— and jobs for dark arts specialists Gavin Williamson and Julian Smith…https://t.co/C5F2nHpxa3

— Alex Wickham (@alexwickham) October 24, 2022

 

Mr Sunak was confirmed as Prime Minister this morning and is in the process of forming his first cabinet.

If appointed, it would be Mr Smith’s first job in government since Boris Johnson was in 10 Downing Street.

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He served as Northern Ireland secretary from 2019 until 2020 and was a chief whip under Theresa May.

Yesterday, after Mr Sunak was confirmed as the Conservative party’s choice for leader, he tweeted that he was the “best possible person to deal with the current challenges we face”.

In @RishiSunak as Prime Minister the United Kingdom has the best possible person to deal with the current challenges we face. Finally.

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

Harrogate district MPs silent on Downing Steet Xmas party allegations

All three MPs representing the Harrogate district have declined to answer questions from the Stray Ferret about the alleged parties held at 10 Downing Street and in Whitehall last year.

We asked Andrew Jones, who represents Harrogate and Knaresborough, Julian Smith, who represents Skipton and Ripon, and Nigel Adams, who represents Selby and Ainsty, what they knew about the parties and what reaction they had received on the matter from constituents.

As usual, the three Conservative MPs did not respond.

However, Lord Newby, the Liberal Democrat leader in the House of Lords, who lives in Ripon, did speak out today.

He tweeted:

“Ministers now looking foolish defending PM.

“Why did Allegra Stratton feel she had to go if nothing happened at No 10?

“Setting up narrow enquiry into Downing Street party purely designed to buy time, fools no-one.”

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It was revealed today that civil servants will launch an official investigation into the alleged parties.

There has been considerable coverage of the issue since the Daily Mirror claimed on November 30 that the Prime Minister and his staff broke coronavirus rules by attending parties at Number 10 in the run-up to last Christmas.

That report said 40 to 50 people attended a party on December 18, when London was in tier three lockdown restrictions.

Under those restrictions indoor mixing was banned and thousands has to spend Christmas away from their families.