WESTMORLAND and Lonsdale MP Tim Farron has backed a Bill in Parliament calling for an early general election.

It comes as Rishi Sunak becomes the third Conservative Prime Minister in as many months.

The Bill was tabled in Parliament on Monday and was given its First Reading on Wednesday after Prime Minister's Questions. 

Mr Farron is urging MPs from across Cumbria to back the Bill and give local people a say over the country’s future.

He said: “The Conservatives have caused calamity and chaos and they must be held to account by the public.

“The Government’s incompetence has led to our economy being trashed, our health services neglected and hundreds of pounds being added to people’s mortgages. 

“From his time as Chancellor, we know that Rishi Sunak is completely out of touch with people in Cumbria – whether that was causing an explosion in second home ownership with his stamp duty tax cut or excluding many self-employed people from coronavirus support payments.

“Conservative MPs must put the country first by backing our calls for an immediate General Election. 

“The future of our country cannot be left to another Conservative stitch-up. It must be in the hands of voters who deserve a say through a General Election now.”

Mr Sunak became Prime Minister after Liz Truss resigned from office last week. Although it looked set to be a Conservative leadership fight between him, Penny Mourdant and previous PM Boris Johnson, Mr Johnson and Ms Mourdant stepped out of the contest.

There is no obligation for Mr Sunak to win his position via a general election until 2024. However, there is a debate as to whether he should hold one anyway to prove there is a public mandate for the third government since the last election.

Simon Fell, the Conservative MP for Furness, supported Mr Sunak and was pleased to see him in office.

"I'm delighted that Rishi has won. He has a good mind and the right temperament and skills to lead our great nation. He also recognises talent and, I'm sure, will lead the country over factionalism. That is what the country needs right now."