Mr Baker said he was looking for “someone with iron determination and authenticity. Someone with the power to carry out difficult decisions.
Mr Baker pointed out how Ms Braverman was one of only 28 Tory MPs who stood firm and refused to back Theresa May’s Brexit deal during three Commons votes in 2019.
He said: “Suella is the embodiment of our diverse country and excited about it too. When eventually even I wavered to support Brexit in name only, Suella stood firm.
“We only have Brexit today because of what we did then. It wouldn’t have happened without her.”
The rise to being a Tory leadership candidate for Ms Braverman has been astonishing. Just three weeks ago she told the Chopper’s Politics podcast of her “deep” faith in Mr Johnson.
Then he said: “I want Boris to continue. I think I’m deeply loyal to him. I wish more of my colleagues would be true to him and think and accept. His amazing achievements for our party.”
Without Suella there would be no Brexit
For seven of the last 12 years, I found myself where I didn’t want to be – rebelling. I am painfully aware of my reputation. Whenever there was a problem, I was there. I was closely involved in the fight to leave the EU and the opposition to lockdowns and restrictions. Don’t get me started on Net Zero. I was humbled that colleagues wanted to fight alongside me in these battles. But I want the fighting to stop. I want our party to unite. I’m glad we’ve been successful on so many fronts, either winning the battles outright or effectively shifting the dial in the direction of freedom and prosperity. But we need a leader who will stop dividing our party. ConservativeHome pollsters were typically flattering, placing me high in their rankings for the next leader. As a well-educated, working-class Cornish boy, I couldn’t be more honoured. I take the views of party supporters seriously. We have to respect the people who work so hard to send us to Westminster. That’s why I took the time to seriously consider putting myself forward to lead the Conservatives in a more conservative direction. I know I have to be ruthlessly realistic about the prospect of a backbench MP without Cabinet experience being chosen by MPs to lead them. I have concluded that they will not. When I research the field, I look for someone with iron determination and authenticity. Someone with the power to carry out difficult decisions. Someone in whom the principles of the Conservative Party are deeply and firmly entrenched. A man of integrity and moral courage. As much as I respect the field of candidates, only one sparks whole-hearted enthusiasm in me as someone who will lead a team capable of meeting the challenges ahead and in the long term. Someone who will win the next election because, under their leadership, we will deserve to win it. Someone I saw make a tough call to reject the easy path of a terrible Brexit deal, which would inevitably split our party and allow a hard-left Corbyn government to destroy our country for generations. The resistance to all the voices that wanted to support this betrayal of the referendum result took guts. He has them. That person is Suella Braverman. Suella is the embodiment of our diverse country and is passionate about it too. When eventually even I wavered to support Brexit in name only, Suella stood firm. We only have Brexit today because of what we did then. It wouldn’t have happened without her. The Conservative Party celebrated our biggest majority in an election since Margaret Thatcher. Millions of people across the country were inspired by our message of hope and unity and believed in us – in many cases for the first time in a generation. Today, we must reclaim that faith. We have to stick to the manifesto we offered and the mandate we were given. On a number of issues, the Conservative Party today is in the wrong place, heading in the wrong direction, limiting our country’s potential, contributing to the cost of living crisis and risking a Labor government. Suella can and will turn it around. Conservatism is about trying to pass on a better future to the next generation, with freedom under the law and responsibility in the community. It is about treating everyone equally and the idea that no one should be prevented from reaching their potential, just as no one is left behind. With unwavering faith, I support Suella for Conservative leader and Prime Minister. Steve Baker is the Conservative MP for Wycombe
