Race on to take over when May makes own exit
TORY heavyweights were last night jockeying for position after embattled Theresa May put an end date on her premiership.
The Prime Minister told Conservative MPs she intended to quit before the next election as she made an emotional pitch to keep her job at a private meeting.
Former Tory leader Iain Duncan Smith was reported to be coordinating a plot to ensure a Eurosceptic replaces her.
He held a series of meetings in his parliamentary office with Eurosceptics, including former Brexit minister Steve Baker and senior Tory Sir Bernard Jenkin.
Meanwhile potential leadership candidates including Sajid Javid, Esther McVey and others were said to be gauging colleagues’ opinions.
Mrs May addressed MPs ahead of a vote of confidence that plunged her party into fresh infighting.
Tensions erupted on live TV when Tory MP Andrew Bridgen walked off an outside broadcast on the BBC’s Victoria Derbyshire show because he did not want to appear with the party’s deputy chairman James Cleverly.
Ex-minister Anna Soubry, a leading Remainer, said she was “appalled and embarrassed” by the attempt to oust Mrs May, adding: “The last thing our country needs or wants is a change in Prime Minister.”
Vengeful
Tory MP Simon Hart said the plot to force Mrs May out was “vengeful” and backbencher Heidi Allen described it as “disgraceful”.
Jacob Rees-Mogg, chairman of the European Research Group (ERG) of Conservatives, said: “The country needs a new leader, it is time for Mrs May to resign.”
Sir Bernard said he had tried his best to work with Mrs May but her decision to delay the vote on the Brexit deal was the “fatal blow”.
Conservative Andrea Jenkyns said the DUP, which gives parliamentary support to the Government, no longer backs Mrs May and pleaded with MPs in marginal seats to “please think whether you want a repeat of the last election”.
Mrs May faced a challenge after a concerted campaign by the ERG over her Brexit deal.
Brexiteers want to whittle down potential candidates to one, to ensure they win a run-off when it happens, and senior figures were getting in position for a contest.
Ex-Brexit Secretary David Davis set out his vision to end the crisis at a hastily arranged press launch.
His successor Dominic Raab, who quit the Cabinet last month in protest over Mrs May’s withdrawal agreement, was also being tipped as a contender, with prominent Eurosceptic Sir Bill Cash among those to name him as a possible replacement.
Boris Johnson, whose leadership ambitions are well-known, is joint favourite with Mr Raab according to bookmakers and has refused to rule out standing. Former Work and Pensions Secretary Ms McVey, who also walked out of Mrs May’s Cabinet
over Brexit, has let it be known she wants to put her name forward. A friend said: “Esther is definitely planning to run. There are several good candidates but she has a bit of spark and experience of the country outside the South of England.” Cabinet ministers all publicly got
behind Mrs May ahead of the contest but many are among those tipped as successors.
Home Secretary Mr Javid, who backed Remain but has since positioned himself as a firm Leaver, has emerged as a key contender. Amid yesterday’s leadership speculation,
one Tory MP said: “Sajid is on manoeuvres. He is up for it and is reaching out to colleagues.”
Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt also voted Remain but has since been keen to burnish his Brexit credentials. Committed Remainer Amber Rudd, who made a return to
the Cabinet as Pensions Secretary last month after resigning as Home Secretary earlier this year, is also likely to put herself forward.
Commons leader Andrea Leadsom, a Brexiteer who pulled out of the race last time round, has refused to rule out another leadership bid.