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David Cameron rules out third term as PM and reveals his favourites for next Tory leader David Cameron rules out third term as PM and reveals his favourites for next Tory leader
(about 4 hours later)
David Cameron has said he will not be Prime Minister beyond 2020 if he is re-elected for a second term in May, and has tipped George Osborne, Theresa May or Boris Johnson as potential successors. David Cameron has said he would not serve a third term as prime minister if the Conservatives remain in power after the May general election.
He told the BBC that by the end of the decade “it will be time for new leadership” and compared serving a third term to a flaky breakfast cereal.  In a BBC interview on Monday night, Mr Cameron said: “I’ve said I’ll stand for a full second term, but I think after that it will be time for new leadership. Terms are like Shredded Wheat – two are wonderful but three might just be too many.”
"Terms are like Shredded Wheat - two are wonderful but three might just be too many.” There has been growing speculation among Conservative MPs that Mr Cameron might quit after the in/out EU referendum he has promised in 2017, but the public statement of his intention not to serve a third term surprised Westminster.
His Chancellor, Home Secretary and the Mayor of London are “great people” with “plenty of talent”, Mr Cameron said, but did not say which one he would ultimately prefer to take over. The comments appeared intended to dispel any impression that he would go “on and on” as prime minister. But they risk firing an early starting gun on the race to succeed him – and may make it difficult for Mr Cameron to retain his personal authority in the latter stages of the next parliament, if the Tories are returned to power on 7 May.
George Osborne and Theresa May have been tipped by Mr Cameron as possible successors (Getty) However in saying he does not wish to serve a third term, he risks being made to appear arrogant in the run up to the election in May, when he could be booted out after just one term of leading a Coalition government. Mr Cameron said he felt his job was “half done” with the economy “turned round” and that he wanted to “finish the job” of education and welfare reform. But he added: “There definitely comes a time where a fresh pair of eyes and fresh leadership would be good, and the Conservative Party has got some great people coming up – the Theresa Mays, and the George Osbornes, and the Boris Johnsons. There’s plenty of talent there. I’m surrounded by very good people.”
The Conservatives have not won a general election outright since 1992 and need to improve in the polls if they hope to end that streak. Mr Cameron’s decision to name-check Mr Osborne is significant. Allies of the Chancellor have played down reports that he does not see himself as a future leader following a rise in his personal ratings. Mr Johnson responded to his own mention by saying people were ‘‘making a fuss about nothing”.
In an interview with the BBC, Mr Cameron said the economy had “turned round” under his stewardship but said his job was only “half done” and that he wanted to “finish the job” of education and welfare reform. George Osborne and Theresa May have been tipped by Mr Cameron as possible successors (Getty)
But he added: "There definitely comes a time where a fresh pair of eyes and fresh leadership would be good, and the Conservative Party has got some great people coming up - the Theresa Mays, and the George Osbornes, and the Boris Johnsons. Sources close to Mr Cameron said that he was ruling out serving a third term – which would keep him in Downing Street until 2025 – but had not made any decision on whether he would fight an election in 2020 or hand over to a successor before the poll.
"You know, there's plenty of talent there. I'm surrounded by very good people. I've said I'll stand for a full second term, but I think after that it will be time for new leadership." Mr Johnson played the comments down as “people making a fuss about nothing” and described the future leader as “a babe unborn”.
Some believe that if Mr Cameron were re-elected in May, he would stand down as Prime Minister after keeping Britain in the EU after a planned referendum in 2017, handing over the reins to his successor, who would be ready to fight the 2020 general election as the new Conservative party leader. Labour accused Mr Cameron of being “presumptuous and arrogant.” Douglas Alexander, chairman of  Labour’s election strategy, said: “The Tories are taking the British public for granted. It is typically arrogant of David Cameron to presume a third Tory term in 2020 before the British public have been given the chance to have their say in this election. It is for the British people and not the prime minister to decide who stays in power.” He added:  “Instead of focusing on themselves, it is time we had a government focused on the needs of working families.”
A Labour spokesperson accused Mr Cameron of "taking the British public for granted". Speaking about possible departure dates is a minefield. Margaret Thatcher was criticised for saying she intended to “go on and on” and was ousted by her party in 1990, three years after winning her third election. Tony Blair ruled out seeking a fourth term ahead of the 2005 election, fuelling speculation about his successor. He came under intense pressure from allies of Gordon Brown to stand down in 2007, a year earlier than he intended.
"It is typically arrogant of David Cameron to presume a third Tory term in 2020 before the British public have been given the chance to have their say in this election," the spokesperson said. "In the UK it is for the British people and not the Prime Minister to decide who stays in power. In the interview, Mr Cameron admitted that being seen as posh had made it easier for his opponents to brand the Conservatives as a party of the rich. He described his wife Samantha as his “sanity check” during the election campaign.
"Instead of focusing on themselves, it is time we had a Government focussed on the needs of working families. Another term of this Government would mean working people worse off and the NHS under threat because of their extreme spending plans. We need a better plan for a better future. We need a Labour government." He revealed that his eldest daughter, Nancy, was campaigning to get Jeremy Clarkson reinstated as the presenter of Top Gear. Mr Clarkson is a neighbour in Mr Cameron’s Oxfordshire constituency.
The Prime Minister joked: “Nancy has threatened to go on hunger strike unless Jeremy Clarkson is restored. I told her this is not necessarily a useful intervention. It is not exactly Gandhi.”