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Conservative leadership: Andrea Leadsom pulls out of race Conservative leadership: Andrea Leadsom pulls out of race
(35 minutes later)
Andrea Leadsom has pulled out of the race to become the next Conservative leader in the “best interests of the country”, paving the way for Theresa May to be crowned prime minister.Andrea Leadsom has pulled out of the race to become the next Conservative leader in the “best interests of the country”, paving the way for Theresa May to be crowned prime minister.
Warning that a nine-week leadership contest would destabilise the country at a critical time following the Brexit vote, Leadsom added: “Business needs certainty, a strong and unified government must move quickly to set out what an independent UK’s framework for business looks like.” Warning that a nine-week leadership contest would destabilise the country at a critical time following the Brexit vote, Leadsom said: “Business needs certainty; a strong and unified government must move quickly to set out what an independent UK’s framework for business looks like.”
Graham Brady, the chair of the Conservative backbench 1922 Committee, said he would now formally confirm May as the new leader of the Conservative party. That will clear the path for the home secretary to become prime minister.Graham Brady, the chair of the Conservative backbench 1922 Committee, said he would now formally confirm May as the new leader of the Conservative party. That will clear the path for the home secretary to become prime minister.
Leadsom said the support of 84 MPs was a great expression of confidence but admitted that it was less than 25% of the parliamentary party and not sufficient support if she were to win the ballot of Conservative members. Related: Andrea Leadsom quits leadership race, paving the way for May to become PM - Politics live
Brady said he was “not discussing coronations”, insisting that a proper process would be followed. However, there is no question of returning to any alternative candidates.
Chris Grayling, who chaired the home secretary’s campaign, said she was “enormously honoured to have been entrusted with this task” by so many parliamentary colleagues.
He said Leadsom’s actions had shown “what a principled and decent politician she is and how willing she is to put the interests of the country before her own. She is a true public servant”. Grayling added: “Now is the time for us to unite.”
Leadsom, the energy minister, said the support of 84 MPs was a great expression of confidence but admitted that it was less than 25% of the parliamentary party and not sufficient support if she were to win the ballot of Conservative members.
“Strong leadership is needed immediately,” added Leadsom, praising her opponent, and adding that May would honour the result of the Brexit referendum.“Strong leadership is needed immediately,” added Leadsom, praising her opponent, and adding that May would honour the result of the Brexit referendum.
Leadsom, who campaigned to leave the EU, that she believed the home secretary would act upon the wishes of the public.Leadsom, who campaigned to leave the EU, that she believed the home secretary would act upon the wishes of the public.
“I believe that in leaving the EU a bright future awaits,” she said. “Theresa May won the support of 60% of Tory colleagues. She is ideally placed to implement Brexit on the best possible terms for the British people and she has promised she will do so.”“I believe that in leaving the EU a bright future awaits,” she said. “Theresa May won the support of 60% of Tory colleagues. She is ideally placed to implement Brexit on the best possible terms for the British people and she has promised she will do so.”
Leadsom had been shaken by the scale of the response to a newspaper interview in which she suggested that the fact she was a mother meant she had a larger stake in society than May.Leadsom had been shaken by the scale of the response to a newspaper interview in which she suggested that the fact she was a mother meant she had a larger stake in society than May.
Related: Andrea Leadsom quits leadership race, paving the way for May to become PM - Politics live
She admitted that she was left in tears at the weekend after a stream of colleagues attacked her on television and in newspapers, with claims that she was inexperienced and had been insensitive.She admitted that she was left in tears at the weekend after a stream of colleagues attacked her on television and in newspapers, with claims that she was inexperienced and had been insensitive.
An hour before the statement, May had launched her national leadership campaign with a speech in Birmingham where she presented herself as the candidate of unity and experience who will make a success of Brexit.An hour before the statement, May had launched her national leadership campaign with a speech in Birmingham where she presented herself as the candidate of unity and experience who will make a success of Brexit.
Anna Soubry, the business minister, said Leadsom’s comments on motherhood meant she was not “PM material” and called on her to pull out for her own sake and that of the party. Michael Gove, who was eliminated from the leadership contest last week, said: “Andrea Leadsom spoke with great dignity and courage today. I wish her every success in the future. We should now move as quickly as possible to ensure Theresa May can take over as leader. She has my full support as our next prime minister.”
There were also claims, denied by MPs, that up to 20 Conservatives might resign if she became prime minister. And a source in the Vote Leave campaign called her “Andrea Loathsome” and said it was a “joke” to suggest she was a high-profile figure in the campaign. Boris Johnson, who dropped out of the race after Gove questioned his leadership abilities, called Leadsom’s decision “brave and principled”. He said: “I have no doubt Theresa will make an excellent party leader and prime minister and I’m encouraged that she’s made it clear that Brexit means Brexit – that we will leave the EU. It is vital that we respect the will of the people and get on with exploiting new opportunities for this country.”
John Redwood said MPs supporting Brexit and who had lined up behind Leadsom would now offer their support to May. He said he wanted a “smooth and rapid exit from the EU”, calling on May to fulfil the will of the British people.
He said: “She [Leadsom] decided that she wasn’t getting enough support from MPs … although she’d come a good second, and could have gone on and won in the country.”
Redwood compared the situation to that of Jeremy Corbyn as leader of the Labour party, saying the Conservatives did not want to end up in a situation where there was strong support from the membership but limited backing from MPs.
Labour, meanwhile, said the country would now see the coronation of May rather than a proper leadership contest. Jon Ashworth, a shadow cabinet minister, described the home secretary’s focus on working people as an “apparent conversion”.
“Theresa May has today set out a detailed critique of the failures of the Tory government, but there was absolutely no recognition of the fact she has been at the heart of this failing government for the last six years,” he said.
He said she had drawn on the industrial strategy put forward by Labour last year during the general election. He added: “But let’s be under no illusions. Theresa May has been part of a government that has cut taxes for millionaires while putting up VAT, and has failed to reform the fundamental weaknesses in our economy, including cracking down properly on tax avoidance.”
Anna Soubry, the business minister, had earlier said that Leadsom’s comments on motherhood meant she was not “PM material” and had called on her to pull out for her own sake and that of the party.
There were also claims, denied by MPs, that up to 20 Conservatives might have resigned if Leadsom became prime minister. And a source in the Vote Leave campaign called her “Andrea Loathsome” and said it was a “joke” to suggest she was a high-profile figure in the campaign.
Iain Duncan Smith said Leadsom had become the victim of Tory establishment “black ops”, arguing that “project fear” had morphed into “project smear”. Some suggested that Leadsom never meant to be the leading Brexit candidate in the final two, as she expected Boris Johnson to play that role.Iain Duncan Smith said Leadsom had become the victim of Tory establishment “black ops”, arguing that “project fear” had morphed into “project smear”. Some suggested that Leadsom never meant to be the leading Brexit candidate in the final two, as she expected Boris Johnson to play that role.
She had also came under intense pressure over claims that she exaggerated positions that she had held in the City in her CV.She had also came under intense pressure over claims that she exaggerated positions that she had held in the City in her CV.