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Liz Truss Becoming Prime Minister Is "Good News" For The Island, MP Says

Isle of Wight MP Bob Seely says Liz Truss being named the next Prime Minister is "good news" for the Island.

She beat former Chancellor Rishi Sunak in the race, securing more than 80,000 votes.

Speaking to Isle of Wight Radio, Mr Seely, who switched his support to the now-former Foreign Secretary after Penny Mordaunt MP was knocked out, said Ms Truss "understands there are additional costs in being an Island".

"She gets that. And Rishi gets that as well. Under Boris we've got the recognition that the Isle of Wight is an Island and deserves a bit more direct funding.

"We've got some more money. At least a million, if not a few. But that's still... it's good and it's something, but I want more. So this is all part of getting a better deal for the Island going forward. Whether it's a £100 million in capital investment or whether it's the things we're going to be needing in the future."

Pushed on whether Ms Truss committed to extra funding for the Island during her visit here last month, Mr Seely said:

"I'm not an official spokesperson for the Liz campaign so let's wait and see. But it's clear what I want for the Island."

Mr Seely said he thinks Ms Truss is facing the "biggest challenge" for an incoming Prime Minister since the 1940s.

With the cost of living crisis, soaring energy bills and the war in Ukraine, he said she has a "massive in-tray":

"I'm not going to double guess her policies. But she is very aware of what is in her in-tray.

"What I would expect is, and I have no doubt about it, that she will hit the ground running."

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