The Darlington and Stockton Times asked voters on Rishi’s doorstep what they thought of their new Prime Minister, the youngest and wealthiest for centuries and the first Hindu PM.
In Northallerton at the heart of his Richmond constituency people who in the past had voted labour, conservative and ‘not saying’ overwhelmingly appealed for ‘stability’ saying they wanted an end to the ‘musical chairs’ of recent politics.
George Bradley, 83 said: “It’s very good, he is the only one that talked sense, Liz Truss couldn’t answer the questions she was no use and he had to put up with Boris Johnson.
"He will have to do the best he can in a difficult position. He could make the energy firms pay up more, take money off them and give pensioners a pay rise.
Conservative party members Chris and Jean Walker had voted for Liz Truss in the last election.
They said: “We think it is a good thing Rishi is the Prime Minister, we voted for Liz Truss and it turned out badly but we think she was badly done by she tried to do too much too soon.
"It was the right message just badly delivered. He is the best bet now we need stability.
“We need to stick to the broad mandate that the government went for in 2019 of a strong economy and NHS they are the messages they should be holding onto, the pandemic made it very difficult, but there is no point having a general election now that would be crazy.”
Labour voter Louise Reid said: “I like him I think he is trustworthy, however I wouldn’t vote Conservative. He is the best option for now I think if anyone is going to bring people together it is him.
I have always been Labour and if there was an election now I would not vote for him but that isn’t going to happen, so I think he is the best person, they should have chosen him before.
“And on the global stage Boris Johnson and Liz Truss were an embarrassment, I think he is sensible and trustworthy and good with the economics. The fact that he is so wealthy doesn’t bother me, he comes across as down to earth and understanding people’s problems.”
Jim and Julia Woods said they are disillusioned with politicians. "We were staunch Llabour supporters but I don’t have any faith in any of them anymore. Rishi has enormous wealth can he represent normal people and get in touch with the normal people. I don’t think he will last that long. It’s like Sunderland football managers they last a few games and then they get sacked.
"A general election will be out of the question because the Tory MPs won’t want to be looking for other jobs. Whoever they get in now needs to stay at least for a while but I can’t say I have any confidence and the country is in such a bad way,” said Jim.
Terry Napier and Vivienne O’Mara from Darlington said they felt he is the best out of a bad bunch. He was the chancellor of the Exchequer for a long time, and they really need to stop this game of musical chairs that just goes on and on. But he doesn’t have a proper mandate, they really should have a general election because the Conservatives have messed it up so completely, but then I don’t have any faith in Keir Starmer, he is a comedian.
"For Rishi what a job he has ahead of him, and it is crucial he gets people around him who aren’t just going to just agree with him. The trouble is that they are all in it for themselves. There could be a real crisis in the health service this winter, we were lifelong health workers and the service is in a terrible state, they need to put the money where it is needed. He has to look at the cost of living and energy.
"I really don’t know what the answer is I am surprised there hasn’t been a revolution.
"I’m not bothered about his wealth, he has done well for himself and worked hard, everybody should be able to do that."
Marie Dollan said “I think it is great because I think he is about the only person in the conservative party who has any idea of what it is like for normal working people.
"I know of personal things he has done in the community which he has put his own money into that he has never told people about. He needs to sort out the NHS and the problems for pensioners and people on low incomes."
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