Putney MP Ready To Be PM?

Justine Greening welcomes budget but attention is on her aspirations to be Prime Minister

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Justine Greening MP has welcomed this Monday's (29 October) announcement by the Chancellor, Philip Hammond, for more funding to improve High Streets alongside cuts in business rates.

However more attention has been given to her interview on Good Morning Britain. She was promoting her Social Mobility pledge, but was asked by the presenters if she wished to step in to the role of Prime Minister "if there is a vacancy you may well put your case forward?"

Ms Greening said she "might be prepared to", but that she was more concerned with the Conservative party showing what it can do for the country.

The Putney MP, who held onto her seat in the last election with a much reduced majority, said that she entered politics to make a change on the ground. Presenter, Susanna Reid applauded Ms Greening's honesty saying that normally "people wriggle on a pin to get out of that question" (whether they wished to be Prime Minister).

After the budget Ms Greening said,“I’ve been pressing the Chancellor to take clear action to support Putney High Street, and others like it, in today’s Budget. Our Council is already investing in upgrading our High Street, including measures to cut air pollution. I hope that this £675m Future High Streets Fund can now help to unlock the next stage of improvements that Putney High Street needs to make it more pedestrian friendly, with a better shopping environment. I’m also interested in seeing how Roehampton High Street and Southfields Village might also be able to benefit from the Fund.

She continued, “I’m also particularly pleased to see that extra support through the business rates system means that bills will be cut by a third for retail properties with a rateable value below £51,000 for 2 years from April 2019. This will really help some of our smaller, independent local shops, pubs and restaurants across Putney, Roehampton and Southfields which I know local residents hugely value so it’s great that the Government is supporting them.”

Justine Greening became Member of Parliament for Putney in the general election of 2005. In May 2010, Justine Greening was appointed as the Economic Secretary to the Treasury within the Coalition Government. In October 2011, she was then appointed to the role of Secretary of State for Transport. In September 2012, she was appointed Secretary of State for International Development, and from July 2016 to January 2018 she was Secretary of State for Education and Minister for Women and Equalities.

We have asked Justine Greening for comment on the question of her future as a candidate for the role of Prime Minister.


October 30, 2018

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