I HAVE been humbled by the supportive emails I have had from many in the Forest of Dean since I announced that I was standing to be Leader of the Conservative and Unionist Party and our next Prime Minister.

I thought I would take this opportunity to tell you directly why I think I am the best person for the job in one of the most challenging periods in our nation’s history.

Three years after people voted to leave the EU, it’s clear that the current top team haven’t delivered. Our country isn’t able to make progress on other things which matter as a result.

Our country needs leadership. Someone who can be trusted to take the right, often difficult, decisions and not just the easy ones.

For me, the Conservative Party needs to be about two things: Freedom and Opportunity.

As the son of two working class parents, I understand the real world and I believe in some simple things.

I believe that people should be given the freedom to live their life how they want and that their hard work should be rewarded.

I believe that every child should get the best possible start in life and the chance to fulfill their potential.

And I believe that when we gave people the chance to decide their future, in or out of the EU, politicians should keep their promise and deliver on the result.

As someone who has served as Chief Whip and sat round the Cabinet table, I know what it takes to work with colleagues in Parliament and get Brexit delivered.

But the challenges facing our country are about much more than Brexit. With fresh ideas for the future we can move Britain forward, building more of the homes that we need, giving more people from backgrounds like mine the opportunities to succeed, fixing our NHS and social care, taking action on climate change and fighting Britain’s corner on the world stage.

I may be the underdog in this race, but it’s always the underdog that has the strongest fighting spirit, and in these challenging times, it is that fighting spirit that our country needs.