Sketch: Who is Andrea Leadsom?
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The outcome means Britain is set to have its second female prime minister.
Britain’s first female prime minister was Margaret Thatcher, a Conservative who governed from 1979 to 1990. The candidate with the fewest votes will be eliminated and the other two will campaign around the country to win votes from 150,000 party members.
“Speaking immediately after the result of the vote Mrs May said: “This vote shows the Conservative party can come together and under my leadership it will”, she says to applause from supporters outside the House of Commons”.
“I’m glad that in the course of the last week I’ve been able to play a part in that debate by standing up for people on average and below-average wages, calling for greater economic and social justice, and saying that our first concern should always be the fate of the vulnerable and the voiceless, the dispossessed and the powerless in our society”.
So how will the prime minister be chosen? Justice Secretary Michael Gove came in third, thus eliminating him from the race.
The majority of the Tories supported the Brexit, which could become a problem for May, who supported the campaign to remain in the EU. He will officially step down in October.
Some Conservative MPs agree – about 30 have signed a letter organized by former party chairman Grant Shapps calling for a new leader to be installed by the end of July.
On Thursday, 7 July 2016, Conservative members of parliament voted for May and Leadsom to continue the running to be Britain’s next Prime Minister.
Cameron has said he stepped down after voters, many of them swayed by concerns over high immigration and a desire to reclaim “independence” from Brussels, rejected his entreaties to keep Britain in the European Union and his warnings that leaving would spell economic disaster. Download it today and continue to enjoy STV News wherever you are.
May campaigned for the “remain” vote in the referendum, whereas Leadsom backed a British exit, or “Brexit”, from EU. She said: “I always try to ensure I am doing what I think God would want me to do”.
Gove congratulated May and Leadsom, describing them as “formidable politicians”.
In announcing her leadership plans a week ago, the 59-year-old pledged to heal a wounded party that seemed close to tearing itself apart over Brexit.
Allies said that despite his poor showing in yesterday’s final round of voting, the Tory heavy hitter would be crucial as Britain enters divorce talks with the EU.
She also said on Thursday she did not like the gay marriage law brought in by Cameron, and would be committed to overturning a ban on fox hunting, both issues which resonate with traditional Conservatives.
The government, under the new prime minister, must trigger Article 50 – the formal mechanism for leaving the European Union – for the withdrawal to take place.
Leadsom, 53, was visible throughout the Brexit campaign.
But despite her strong lead in the vote of MPs, Ms May is far from assured of winning the race for Downing Street.
Mrs Leadsom told the Westminster rally: “Prosperity should be our goal, not austerity”. Leadsom has rejected the criticisms. Junior minister Leadsom, who was only elected to parliament in 2010, garnered 84 votes.
And now, former Barings Boss Peter Norris has said he could not remember Leadsom contributing as the bank went down in 1995, despite Leadsom repeatedly referring to her role.
And, as Leadsom herself pointed out: “Our current prime minister hadn’t been in government at all before he become leader and then prime minister”.
After Thursday’s vote, May promised she would provide “strong, proven leadership” and promised to make Britain a strong country for everyone, not just privileged elites.
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None of the candidates have provided social media with as much comedy material as Gove – from the way he claps to the way he drinks a glass of water.
