This is not the time to change Conservative leader, UK minister argues
October 18, 2022, 7:30 pm

This is not the time to change Conservative leader, UK minister argues

Ukraine can depend on the UK for support in the long term - UK PM Liz Truss official Twitter account

This is not the time to be changing leader, Armed Forces Minister James Heappey has argued, as he defended the prime minister, the BBC reported.

Suggestions that there is a candidate to replace Liz Truss who would unite the party is "for the birds", he added.

Mr Heappey said the public "will not indulge the Conservative Party tearing itself apart" with another change of leadership.

"We have seen over the past two or three weeks what the economic price of political instability has been," Mr Heappey added.

Speaking to BBC Breakfast he admitted the mini-budget was "unhelpful".

He said "dozens" of his Tory MP colleagues are "gravely concerned" but "they like me recognise this is not the time to be changing leader again".

UK Armed Forces Minister James Heappey - Photo. RMASandhurst @RMASandhurst

And speaking to Sky News, Mr Heappey also said that "given how skittish our politics are" at the moment "I don't think there's the opportunity to make any more mistakes".

Ms Truss has insisted she will lead the Conservatives into the next general election, despite U-turns leaving her battling to salvage her authority.

Labour is calling for an election regardless of Ms Truss's position.

UK Premier Liz Truss apologizes for mistakes

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer has called for Ms Truss to stand down, and for the government to call an election.

"The real risk now is carrying on with this lot rather than having a general election and bringing in a Labour government and securing the economy," Sir Keir said.

"We can't go on like this shutting the public out."

The prime minister is expected to hold talks later with the European Research Group of Tory MPs, who are on the right of the party.

And Ms Truss has been holding meetings with her cabinet ministers and backbench MPs as she tries to reassure her party.

levantnews-BBC

UNICEF says Somalia famine risk worst in half a century During his time in Syria, Putin's new Commander, launched dozens of attacks on civilians

BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, has sponsored the BuildHer CityHack 2025 Hackathon, a two-day event spearheaded by the College of Engineering and Technology at the Royal University for Women (RUW).
Aimed at secondary school students, the event brought together a distinguished group of academic professionals and technology experts to mentor and inspire young participants.
More than 100 high school students from across the Kingdom of Bahrain took part in the hackathon, which featured an intensive programme of training workshops and hands-on sessions. These activities were tailored to enhance participants’ critical thinking, collaborative problem-solving, and team-building capabilities, while also encouraging the development of practical and sustainable solutions to contemporary challenges using modern technological tools.
BENEFIT’s Chief Executive Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi, commented: “Our support for this educational hackathon reflects our long-term strategic vision to nurture the talents of emerging national youth and empower the next generation of accomplished female leaders in technology. By fostering creativity and innovation, we aim to contribute meaningfully to Bahrain’s comprehensive development goals and align with the aspirations outlined in the Kingdom’s Vision 2030—an ambition in which BENEFIT plays a central role.”
Professor Riyadh Yousif Hamzah, President of the Royal University for Women, commented: “This initiative reflects our commitment to advancing women in STEM fields. We're cultivating a generation of creative, solution-driven female leaders who will drive national development. Our partnership with BENEFIT exemplifies the powerful synergy between academia and private sector in supporting educational innovation.”
Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager, PR & Communication at BENEFIT, said: “We are honoured to collaborate with RUW in supporting this remarkable technology-focused event. It highlights our commitment to social responsibility, and our ongoing efforts to enhance the digital and innovation capabilities of young Bahraini women and foster their ability to harness technological tools in the service of a smarter, more sustainable future.”
For his part, Dr. Humam ElAgha, Acting Dean of the College of Engineering and Technology at the University, said: “BuildHer CityHack 2025 embodies our hands-on approach to education. By tackling real-world problems through creative thinking and sustainable solutions, we're preparing women to thrive in the knowledge economy – a cornerstone of the University's vision.”