Last Monday I was elected Deputy Leader of the Conservatives once more, this time without a merger. The margin on which I won was incredibly small, just one, but that makes me even more motivated to fight for the entire party. This small margin shows me that there was a real choice and it also means that I have to work hard for the people who didn’t vote for me. I want to thank my opponent, model-hjt, for this great run to become Deputy Leader and I hope that we can work together to achieve a better Conservative Party.

I see it as my task to unite the party, the more liberal and the more right-wing of the party, into one front to give the British people what they deserve, a Government that actually works for them. But my win also shows that the liberal wing of the Conservative Party is very much alive and well, more than others may think. Us entering a Government with Coalition!, the Liberal Democrats, NIIP and the FLP show this as well. Without losing our identity, we should be open to working with others. We can’t put our head in the sand and wish we can do everything on our own.

I’m also pleased to have been asked by my Leader, u/EruditeFellow, to serve as Lord High Chancellor of Great Britain and Secretary of State for Justice, a prestigious job. It makes me proud to serve in this capacity after having been Foreign Secretary and Home Secretary. It’s my goal to work together with others in this Government to make our country safer, focussing on rehabilitation of prisoners and making sure we’re working with the devolved nations, the European Union and other allies to tackle crime.