Theresa May has been confirmed as the next leader of the Conservative Party and will succeed David Cameron as Prime Minister on Wednesday. The current Home Secretary and MP for Maidenhead is another Oxford graduate, although she studied Geography and not the usual PPE course which so many other politicians appear to favour. She worked at the Bank of England for a time and has been a politician since her election as an MP in 1997.
Andrea Leadsom MP, the other runner in the contest to lead the party and become Prime Minister, withdrew at just before noon today. She had been embroiled in a media tangle over the weekend following an interview with The Times. None of this was mentioned when she appeared before the cameras earlier to announce that she did not believe she had enough support to be successful and was doing the honourable thing in withdrawing.
Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson commented:
“The country needs certainty and stability going forward and that’s exactly what a Theresa May premiership can provide.
“In Mrs May we will have a Prime Minister who has the experience, the judgement and the leadership to start that job from day one.
“The dignified manner of Andrea Leadsom’s withdrawal today allows for that transition to be as swift and smooth as possible.
“It is right that we now have a timetable for this process and I offer Theresa May my support and the support of the entire Scottish Party as she takes on the role of Prime Minister.”
SNP Westminster Leader Angus Robertson MP said:
“I congratulate Theresa May on becoming leader of her party, and the next UK Prime Minister.
“While there are very many issues on which we disagree, the role of Prime Minister is a huge responsibility and she has my best wishes in carrying out that role effectively and in the interests of all people and nations in the UK.
“Theresa May must show strong leadership. She becomes Prime Minister at a time of great uncertainty caused by the Tories and she will face major challenges as a result. The Tories have taken the country and the economy to the edge of a cliff with the EU referendum result – putting party ahead of country, failing to plan for Brexit and causing a great deal of damage and uncertainty.
“Theresa May should now work with Nicola Sturgeon to protect Scotland’s place in Europe – respecting the overwhelming choice of the people of Scotland who voted by 62% to remain in the EU.”
Founding Editor of The Edinburgh Reporter.
Edinburgh-born multimedia journalist and iPhoneographer.
