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Sam Gyimah joins Tory leadership race offering second referendum Sam Gyimah joins Tory leadership race offering second referendum
(about 16 hours later)
The former universities minister Sam Gyimah is the latest Conservative MP to announce he is entering the party’s leadership race, calling for a “final say on the Brexit deal” as the only way to break the parliamentary deadlock.The former universities minister Sam Gyimah is the latest Conservative MP to announce he is entering the party’s leadership race, calling for a “final say on the Brexit deal” as the only way to break the parliamentary deadlock.
There is a packed field of 13 candidates vying to replace Theresa May as prime minister, with Boris Johnson, Dominic Raab and Michael Gove the bookies’ favourites. However, Gyimah is the only candidate offering a second Brexit referendum.There is a packed field of 13 candidates vying to replace Theresa May as prime minister, with Boris Johnson, Dominic Raab and Michael Gove the bookies’ favourites. However, Gyimah is the only candidate offering a second Brexit referendum.
“We face a very stark and unwelcome choice,” Gyimah told Sky. “It is either no deal or revoke via a second referendum, possibly. But what most of the candidates are offering is no deal and a fudge on Theresa May’s deal, which has been heavily defeated.”“We face a very stark and unwelcome choice,” Gyimah told Sky. “It is either no deal or revoke via a second referendum, possibly. But what most of the candidates are offering is no deal and a fudge on Theresa May’s deal, which has been heavily defeated.”
He said the nationwide “broad sweep of opinion” on how the UK should move forward with Brexit was not being reflected in the Tory leadership contest, which is why he was putting himself forward.He said the nationwide “broad sweep of opinion” on how the UK should move forward with Brexit was not being reflected in the Tory leadership contest, which is why he was putting himself forward.
“Parliament is deadlocked, we all know that, we want to move forward and we want to be able to bring the country together,” he added. “And that is why I think a final say on the Brexit deal is the way to achieve that.”“Parliament is deadlocked, we all know that, we want to move forward and we want to be able to bring the country together,” he added. “And that is why I think a final say on the Brexit deal is the way to achieve that.”
Amber Rudd warns Tory leadership candidates against backing no-deal BrexitAmber Rudd warns Tory leadership candidates against backing no-deal Brexit
Gyimah, the MP for East Surrey since 2010, said as prime minister he would legislate for a second referendum with no deal, Theresa May’s deal and a remain option on the ballot paper. In that three-option referendum, Gyimah said he would vote remain but would not “actively campaign” for it as prime minister.Gyimah, the MP for East Surrey since 2010, said as prime minister he would legislate for a second referendum with no deal, Theresa May’s deal and a remain option on the ballot paper. In that three-option referendum, Gyimah said he would vote remain but would not “actively campaign” for it as prime minister.
He called on the Conservative party to put the country first. “What makes us successful is when we put the country first and when we are pragmatic,” he said. “And I will be the only candidate in the race offering this option.”He called on the Conservative party to put the country first. “What makes us successful is when we put the country first and when we are pragmatic,” he said. “And I will be the only candidate in the race offering this option.”
A vast majority of the public supported a people’s vote, Gyimah said, and he referred to the chaos that has historically been wrought within the Tory party over Europe. “If we want to govern in the interests of the country, this is an option we have to consider seriously.”A vast majority of the public supported a people’s vote, Gyimah said, and he referred to the chaos that has historically been wrought within the Tory party over Europe. “If we want to govern in the interests of the country, this is an option we have to consider seriously.”
The environment secretary’s campaign plan was knocked off course by revelations about drug-taking. The environment secretary’s campaign plan was knocked off course by revelations about drug-taking. He has sought to regain his place as the leading ‘Stop Boris’ with a series of policy pledges.
He has sought to regain his place as the leading ‘Stop Boris’ with a series of policy pledges, from a new social insurance to pay for social care, to changing human rights law to prevent service personnel being pursued over historical crimes. He has better Brexiter credentials than Hunt, is liked by the moderate wing of the party, and is a better orator than almost any other candidate. Gove has privately reassured colleagues over recent months that he understands the devastating consequences of a no-deal Brexit, not least for his own environment department.
He has played up his senior role in the Vote Leave campaign, saying he had ‘led from the front’ because he believed it was ‘the right thing to do, at a critical moment in our history’. He has also stressed his background as a reformer, and promised to boost education funding and tackle social care funding – all pitches that could appeal to Stewartites, potentially enabling Gove to overtake Jeremy Hunt. 
On Brexit he has publicly discussed the idea of extending the Brexit deadline slightly beyond 31 October, if needed to finalise a deal. Has not completely ruled out a no-deal Brexit.
He received 37 votes in the first round, 41 in the second, and 51 in the third round, placing him third each time.He received 37 votes in the first round, 41 in the second, and 51 in the third round, placing him third each time.
The foreign secretary has made the case that he is the most serious and experienced would-be leader, in an apparent rebuke to his main rival, Boris Johnson.  Hunt’s team called his showing on Wednesday a 'fantastic result'. It was, in the sense that he avoided being overtaken by Gove, and that he picked up an extra eight votes from Tuesday’s showing of 46.
On Brexit he believes a new deal is possible by 31 October, and would send a new, cross-party negotiating team to Brussels. Would countenance leaving EU without a deal, but has warned that could lead to a confidence vote and potentially an election. But there is no doubt that after three rounds of voting Hunt would have hoped to be the obvious challenger to Johnson, whereas he was only narrowly ahead of Gove, with just three votes in it.
Hunt’s problem is he is seen as the continuity candidate, the safe pair of hands, when colleagues are starting to see the attraction of a new style.  The foreign secretary’s team are conscious that he risks appearing middle-of-the-road, with his rivals dismissing him as 'continuity May', or worse, Theresa in trousers, or 'Tit' for short.
He received 43 votes in the first round and 46 votes in the second round. He continued to be in second place in the third round with 54 votes.He received 43 votes in the first round and 46 votes in the second round. He continued to be in second place in the third round with 54 votes.
Javid struggled to define himself in the first days of the campaign, not a fresh face, not a safe pair of hands, or a true Brexit believer. But his campaign picked up, with the endorsement of popular Scottish Tory leader Ruth Davidson, a polished leadership video telling the moving story of his background, and a lively launch speech. It was still only enough to place him fifth, though. Before his punchy performance in Tuesday’s debate Javid appeared vulnerable, with some allies fearing that he could be overtaken by Stewart, whose off-the-wall campaign style had helped him to remain in contention.
On Brexit, Javid says he wants to leave with a deal, but has talked down the idea of another extension and would be prepared to opt for no deal. But Javid scored one of the few clear victories amid the cacophony in the BBC studio, bouncing his four colleagues into promising an independent inquiry into Islamophobia in their party – a promise the winner will now be held to.
He is expected to make a new push to define himself as the change candidate who can talk to Tory voters in new places – though he may also be tempted to drop out to tuck in behind one of the frontrunners. It is hard to see how he could make it into the final two from this position. His campaign team professed themselves delighted with the result, and will now turn their attention to trying to win over Stewart’s backers, by stressing Javid’s liberal credentials.
However, one moderate former Tory minister, who had backed Javid in the first round because of personal loyalty, said: “I like him, but I can’t support him because I don’t agree with his politics – he’s a Thatcherite.”
He received 23 votes in the first round, 33 votes in the second, and 38 in the third.He received 23 votes in the first round, 33 votes in the second, and 38 in the third.
The former foreign secretary already has enough support to progress through to the members’ ballot. All Johnson needs to do is sit tight, keep his MPs sweet and try not to ruin it for himself. He has kept a low profile in the media and stayed in the tearooms and in his office, methodically talking round colleagues. His team know that one negative news cycle because of an off-guard comment could see his star plummet – and Johnson is more prone to those than most. Johnson’s progress to Downing Street appeared unstoppable even before last week’s first round of voting among MPs, and most of his colleagues believe it is now all but inevitable that he will be Britain’s next prime minister.
On Brexit he has promised the UK will leave the EU on 31 October, come what may, even without a deal if a new agreement cannot be reached in time. His well-disciplined campaign team will continue with their strategy of subjecting him to minimal media exposure, though once the field is narrowed down to two, the final pair will appear in more than a dozen head-to-head hustings for Tory members. The team’s main aim is simply to keep heads down and avoid Johnson creating headlines for the wrong reasons.
Johnson won the first round with 114 votes, and the second round with 126 votes. He won the third round with 143 votes.Johnson won the first round with 114 votes, and the second round with 126 votes. He won the third round with 143 votes.
He insisted he was not positioning himself for a cabinet post and said he would find it difficult to serve as a minister under a leader pursuing a no-deal Brexit.He insisted he was not positioning himself for a cabinet post and said he would find it difficult to serve as a minister under a leader pursuing a no-deal Brexit.
Gyimah, a former investment banker at Goldman Sachs, resigned from the government in November in protest against May’s Brexit deal, which he said was not in Britain’s national interest and would mean the UK lost its voice in the EU while still having to follow the bloc’s rules. He said at the time that another referendum could be the only option if MPs rejected May’s deal, as they did.Gyimah, a former investment banker at Goldman Sachs, resigned from the government in November in protest against May’s Brexit deal, which he said was not in Britain’s national interest and would mean the UK lost its voice in the EU while still having to follow the bloc’s rules. He said at the time that another referendum could be the only option if MPs rejected May’s deal, as they did.
Elsewhere, a number of other Tory leadership hopefuls set out policy proposals on Sunday. Sajid Javid said he would consider scrapping the top rate of income tax in a bid to boost the economy. Raab has pledged to cut income tax by a penny a year – 5p over the course of a parliament to 15p in the pound for the basic rate – which critics have claimed would cost £25bn.Elsewhere, a number of other Tory leadership hopefuls set out policy proposals on Sunday. Sajid Javid said he would consider scrapping the top rate of income tax in a bid to boost the economy. Raab has pledged to cut income tax by a penny a year – 5p over the course of a parliament to 15p in the pound for the basic rate – which critics have claimed would cost £25bn.
The foreign secretary, Jeremy Hunt, has suggested slashing corporation tax to Irish levels of 12.5%, from its current 19%.The foreign secretary, Jeremy Hunt, has suggested slashing corporation tax to Irish levels of 12.5%, from its current 19%.
Gove is said to be preparing to delay Brexit until the end of next year rather than leave without a deal on 31 October. while former Commons leader Andrea Leadsom has set out a three-point plan to deliver Brexit, including introducing legislation to guarantee citizens’ rights for Britons in the EU and Gibraltar and EU citizens in the UK.Gove is said to be preparing to delay Brexit until the end of next year rather than leave without a deal on 31 October. while former Commons leader Andrea Leadsom has set out a three-point plan to deliver Brexit, including introducing legislation to guarantee citizens’ rights for Britons in the EU and Gibraltar and EU citizens in the UK.
Meanwhile, Liz Truss, the chief secretary to the Treasury, has announced she is backing Johnson to be the next prime minister.Meanwhile, Liz Truss, the chief secretary to the Treasury, has announced she is backing Johnson to be the next prime minister.
Sam GyimahSam Gyimah
Conservative leadershipConservative leadership
ConservativesConservatives
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