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Andrea Leadsom Quits Race to Lead British Conservatives and Backs Theresa May Theresa May Likely to Be Britain’s Next Premier as Andrea Leadsom Quits Race
(35 minutes later)
LONDON — Andrea Leadsom, one of the two finalists to lead Britain’s Conservative Party — and therefore succeed David Cameron as prime minister — pulled out of the race on Monday after her comments about motherhood brought widespread criticism. LONDON — Theresa May, the 59-year-old home secretary, appeared likely to become Britain’s next prime minister after her only rival for the job, Andrea Leadsom, abruptly pulled out of the race on Monday.
Ms. Leadsom, an energy minister, had earlier apologized for suggesting in an interview that being a mother made her a better contender than her rival, the home secretary, Theresa May. Ms. Leadsom, 53, the energy minister, had been the subject of widespread criticism after suggesting in an interview published on Saturday in The Times of London that being a mother made her better qualified to run the country than Ms. May.
In announcing her decision on Monday, Ms. Leadsom said she would support Ms. May. Graham Brady, chairman of the 1922 committee of Conservative lawmakers, said that there was “no need to rerun the election,” and that Ms. May was now the only candidate to lead the party — and therefore succeed David Cameron as prime minister.
Because of a quirk in the British system, the job of next prime minister comes with the position of Conservative Party leader, soon to be vacated by Mr. Cameron, and will therefore be chosen by the party’s 150,000 members. Mr. Cameron said that he would step down by the fall after British voters decided to leave the European Union in a referendum held last month, setting the stage for the battle to replace him.
Ms. Leadsom’s decision to withdraw could leave the field open to Ms. May, though she had previously said that she wanted a contest to take place, rather than being selected unopposed. Mr. Brady said that he needed to consult with other party officials before confirming, formally, that Ms. May would be the party’s new leader. Asked if there was any need to reopen the contest, he replied, “None whatsoever, we have a single candidate.”
It was unclear in the immediate aftermath of Ms. Leadsom’s announcement whether the third-place candidate, the justice secretary, Michael Gove, would be able to revive his campaign. He had been eliminated when the choice was narrowed by Conservative lawmakers to the two contenders who were to be selected by party members. In announcing on Monday that she was abandoning her pursuit of the Conservative Party leadership, Ms. Leadsom said that she would support Ms. May.
Ms. Leadsom’s campaign hit trouble on Saturday when The Times of London published an interview with her in which she said that having children meant she had “a very real stake” in Britain’s future. Ms. May and her husband do not have children. “The interests of our country are best served by the immediate appointment of a strong and well-supported prime minister,” she said.
Ms. Leadsom’s campaign hit trouble on Saturday after The Times of London published an interview with her in which she said that having children meant she had “a very real stake” in Britain’s future. Ms. May and her husband do not have children.
The newspaper reported Ms. Leadsom as saying that, while Ms. May “possibly has nieces, nephews,” she herself had “children who are going to have children” who would be directly affected by what happened after Britain’s exit from the European Union.The newspaper reported Ms. Leadsom as saying that, while Ms. May “possibly has nieces, nephews,” she herself had “children who are going to have children” who would be directly affected by what happened after Britain’s exit from the European Union.
But even before that controversy, Ms. Leadsom had been accused of exaggerating or embellishing her experience in financial services before becoming a lawmaker in 2010.But even before that controversy, Ms. Leadsom had been accused of exaggerating or embellishing her experience in financial services before becoming a lawmaker in 2010.