Events of the past week highlight some of the challenges for political transition from one leader to another. It can be hard for political leaders to accept and acknowledge defeat or that their time has come.

I was reminded of this with news of the death of Silvio Berlusconi, who passed away this week. He was defeated three times since 2011, but never seemed to give up his ambition to have another go.

The same could be said for Donald Trump, despite being arrested and indicted on multiple counts this week for retaining security briefings in his home after he left office. He is still currently the bookies' favourite for the Republican presidential nomination next year.

Here at home, in the same week we have had the unedifying spectacle of Nicola Sturgeon, a former First Minister of Scotland being arrested and questioned by police.

It will not have escaped readers' attention that last week also saw the resignation from the Commons of a previous prime minister, Boris Johnson, on receipt of the draft report from the privileges committee of the House of Commons, which seems to have found that he had misled Parliament. Rather than give his opponents the pleasure of sanctioning him, Boris chose to resign before publication of the report. 

I was in the House on Wednesday when the writ was moved to trigger a by-election, with one of two others expected in seats of key lieutenants who seem to have resigned in sympathy or because their ambition for elevation has not been approved while sitting MPs by the House of Lords Appointments Commission. 

Boris has been a polarising politician. He undoubtedly played a large part in securing a clear election victory in 2019, which bought the political gridlock to an end. This enabled him to meet his election pledge to deliver Brexit. 

His period in office was dominated by the pandemic and its aftermath. He came close to being taken by Covid himself. He led the national response and facilitated development of vaccines so they were deployed ahead of any other country to bring the pandemic under control. 

As Prime Minister he also had to face the horrors of war in Europe when Russia invaded Ukraine. He was robust in leading the Western response, providing military and humanitarian aid to Ukraine and welcome to their refugees. He also had to deal with the resurgence of inflation, as soaring energy costs followed sanctions on Russia and its disruption to global energy markets. While inflation is coming down, it is still being felt as high food prices flow from high energy prices.

History may look more favourably on his period as Prime Minister than current observers. But having ceased to be an MP, the country will move on to the period beyond Boris.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, who has only been in office for eight months, is concentrating on guiding the country through these extraordinarily challenging times. He is focused on delivering his pledges reflecting the concerns of constituents in South Shropshire.

I am confident that the Prime Minister will deliver on his pledges, to deliver on these priorities this year, including halving inflation, fostering economic growth, reducing national debt, cutting NHS waiting lists, and controlling illegal immigration. 

it is by delivering that the Prime Minister will demonstrate to the British public that he is able to provide the leadership and vision to take the country forward through the current challenges to the brighter future ahead. He is the right leader for our times.