Energy minister Andrea Leadsom abruptly withdrew from the
contest to succeed David Cameron as Britain's prime minister today, leaving her
rival Theresa May as the only candidate.
The two women had been due to contest a ballot of around
150,000 Conservative party members, with the result to be declared by Sept 9,
but the shock announcement opens the way for May to take over much sooner.
Leadsom was barely known to the British public until she
emerged as a prominent voice in the successful campaign for Britain to leave
the European Union.
With no cabinet experience, she had been strongly criticised
over a newspaper interview in which she appeared to suggest that being a mother
meant she had more of a stake in the country's future than May, who has no
children.
Leadsom, 53, read out a statement to reporters in which she
said she was pulling out of the race because a nine-week leadership campaign
was highly undesirable at such a critical time.
She acknowledged that May had secured much stronger backing
in a vote of Conservative members of parliament last week.
"Strong leadership is needed urgently to begin the work
of withdrawing from the European Union," Leadsom said.
"I have... concluded that the interests of our country
are best served by the immediate appointment of a strong and well supported
prime minister. I am therefore withdrawing from the leadership election and I
wish Theresa May the very greatest success. I assure her of my full support."
May, 59, who has served as interior minister for the past
six years, is now set to become Britain's second female prime minister after
Margaret Thatcher, although it was not clear how soon that would happen.
Graham Brady, head of the 330-strong Conservative faction in
parliament, said there were still constitutional procedures to be observed
before her appointment could be confirmed, but he aimed to make a confirmation
announcement as soon as possible.
"We're not discussing coronations, we're discussing a
proper procedural process which should conclude very soon," he told
reporters.
Forging new role
In a speech earlier today, May set out her vision for the
economy, calling for "a country that works for everyone, not just the
privileged few".
"In the coming weeks I will set out (how) to take our
economy through this period of uncertainty, to get the economy growing strongly
across all parts, to deal with Britain's long-standing productivity problem, to
create more well-paid jobs, to negotiate the best terms for Britain's departure
from the EU and to forge a new role for ourselves in the world," she said.
May favoured the 'Remain' side during last month's
referendum campaign. But she repeated her new mantra that "Brexit means
Brexit", saying there could be no second referendum and no attempt to
rejoin the EU by the back door.
"As prime minister, I will make sure that we leave the
European Union," she said.
"The British people were given their opportunity to
vote on this... They've given us a very clear message, and I think we respond
to that message and we do what the British people have asked us to."
The 52-48 percent vote to quit the EU after 43 years of
membership has shaken financial markets because the complex divorce process
creates huge uncertainty for business, trade and investment.
It has thrown both Britain's major political parties into
upheaval.
Minutes before Leadsom's announcement, opposition Labour
lawmaker Angela Eagle said she would challenge Jeremy Corbyn for the leadership
of the party.
Corbyn was elected last year with overwhelming support from
grassroots Labour activists. He has ignored a vote of no confidence from the
party's lawmakers, saying he has a responsibility to carry out that mandate.
- Reuters
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