Conservatives line up in U.K. to replace PM

Work/Pensions chief is 1st to make it official as Labour turmoil continues

LONDON — Britain has not yet quit the European Union, but it has already left politics-as-usual far behind.

Conservative Party contenders began to emerge Wednesday to replace Prime MinisterDavid Cameron in thewake of Britain’s vote to leave the bloc, while the head of the opposition Labour Party tried to cling to power in the face of a growing rebellion in party ranks.

Cameron announced his resignation after British voters decided last week, against his advice, that the U.K. should leave the 28nation EU.

His successor will get the challenge— or the poisoned chalice — of becoming the country’s next leader and negotiating Britain’s exit.

Conservative lawmakers have untilnoonThursday to announce their candidacy.

The first contender to make it official was Work and Pensions Secretary Stephen Crabb, who said he was running because “I don’t see anybody who provides a compelling answer” to the question of how to heal a deeply divided nation.

The 43-year-old Crabb, raised by a single mother in public housing, said he would offer “resilience, optimism, humility, strength.” Although he backed the “remain” side in the referendum, he promised to deliver a “negotiated exit” fromtheEU.

Crabb is running with Business Secretary Sajid Javid — who would serve as his finance minister — on what has been dubbed a blue-collar ticket.

Both men come from working-class backgrounds, in contrast to upperfront-runner Boris Johnson, the former mayor of London, and the current prime minister, Cameron.

Johnson, who led the “leave” side in the referendum, has the support of several senior Tory lawmakers. Environment Secretary Elizabeth Truss wrote that she was backing the 52-year-old Johnson because the new leader must be “someone who believes in, and campaigned for, leaving theEU.”

Home Secretary Theresa May, who backed the “remain” side but is seen as competent and experienced, is also expected to run.

May, 59, could appeal to Conservativeswhomistrust the flamboyant Johnson, who has been accused of using the referendum as a platform for his leadership ambitions and of failing to draw up plans for what to do if his “leave” side did win.

Former Defense SecretaryLiamFox said hewould formally announce his candidacy Thursday. Fox, on the anti-EU wing of the party, had to resign fromthe government in 2011 after allowing a friend access to official meetings and overseas visits.

After nominations close, Conservative lawmakers will vote and whittle down the candidates to two.

Those names will be put to a postal vote of all party members, with the result announced Sept. 9.

The opposition Labour Party is also in turmoil at the top, with leader Jeremy Corbyn resisting pressure to resign.

Many Labour supporters accuse him of failing to make a strong enough case to voters for why Britain should remain in the EU.

Labour lawmakers in Parliament passed a noconfidence vote 172-40 against Corbyn on Tuesday — but he says he will not resign because he has the support of grass-roots party members.

A chorus of anti-Corbyn statements poured out Wednesday from Labour lawmakers fearful that their party will be wiped out if the new Conservative leader calls a quick election while the staunchly socialist, doggedly uncharismatic Corbyn is at the helm.

Corbyn’s predecessor, Ed Miliband, said Britain was facing its biggest crisis since World War II and “Jeremy cannot rise to that challenge.” intense

Ex-Labour Cabinet minister Tessa Jowell declared the partywas in “a complete shambles,” while a former interim leader of the party, Harriet Harman, said Corbyn “has no right or mandate to stay in office despite his failure and take the party down with him.”

The imminent departure of Cameron and the rebellion against Corbyn gave a surreal tone Wednesday to the normally raucous Prime Minister’s Questions session in the House of Commons.

Labour Party lawmakers declined to cheer Corbyn and sat in stony silence as he quizzed Cameron on the economic implications of a British exit from the EU — or Brexit, as it is known.

Cameron said it was not in the nation’s best interests for Corbyn to keep his job.

“For heaven’s sake, man, go!” Cameron urged.