Theresa May and Michael Gove set for showdown in race to become Britain’s next PM
Tory heavyweights look likely to go head to head as Liam Fox and Stephen Crabb drop out of running
MICHAEL Gove’s supporters last night insisted the final showdown to be PM must be between him and Theresa May — because they are the only ones experienced enough to do the job.
Home Secretary Mrs May won the first round of the Tory leadership contest yesterday with a landslide 165 votes from Conservative MPs.
Energy Minister Andrea Leadsom was second on 66, followed by Justice Secretary Mr Gove on 48 and Pensions Secretary Stephen Crabb on 34.
Ex-Defence Secretary Liam Fox got just 16 and so dropped out of the contest. Mr Crabb later announced he was pulling out. Both men said they would back Mrs May.
Education Secretary Nicky Morgan said it was vital for Britain that the race to be PM should come down to a head-to-head between Mrs May and Mr Gove. Ms Morgan, who backs Mr Gove, said: “The country is facing the biggest crisis since the 1940s.
“We need real top-flight people with a lot of Cabinet experience to negotiate a successful departure from the EU.
“It’s therefore only right Michael and Theresa’s names go forward to party members.”
Mr Gove’s supporters are now confident he will overturn Ms Leadsom’s slim lead in the next MPs’ ballot before 135,000 Tory party members decide which of the final two candidates becomes leader.
Ms Leadsom came under renewed pressure last night after Mrs May published her tax returns, showing she paid £40,023 in tax on income of £117,350 last year.
The former banker already faces questions over her finances after it emerged she set up a trust for her children in 2005 to hold shares in a buy-to-let firm, a tactic often used to reduce inheritance tax.
Supporters insist she will publish her “quite boring” tax return if she is one of the two final candidates on Thursday.
Senior Tory MP Michael Fabricant said: “Conservative members should have a genuine choice between candidates with strong experience and different visions.
“They are talking about Andrea Leadsom’s inexperience and it is Michael Gove who has had a solid stint in Cabinet.”
Culture Minister Ed Vaizey said: “This was a far better result for Michael Gove than anyone was predicting. It is clear that Michael is now building momentum and gathering the support of colleagues as they hear more about his exciting vision for Britain. It has to be a heavyweight showdown between May and Gove now.”
Mr Gove, one of the masterminds of the successful Leave campaign, said he was delighted by his support.
He added: “It reflects the optimistic message that I’ve been putting forward.
“Now that Britain has voted to leave, I think the country deserves to have a leader who believes in Britain outside the European Union and who also has experience at the highest level of government.
“I hope that in the days to come, I’ll be able to convince my colleagues that I should be one of the candidates party members can chose from.
“I think they should have a choice between two candidates of experience, two candidates who have delivered in government departments.”
After last night’s ballot some claimed Mrs May’s supporters had voted tactically — backing Mr Gove in an effort to knock Brexit star Ms Leadsom out of the race.
Ex-Tory leader Iain Duncan Smith, who is backing Ms Leadsom, said: “Some May supporters voted for Gove tonight.
“They know if Andrea gets as far as the members, she will win. Theresa fears Andrea more than anyone else.”
Mrs May, who backed Remain, said she was “pleased with this result”. She added: “There is a big job before us — to unite our party and the country, to negotiate the best possible deal as we leave the EU and to make Britain work for everyone. I am the only candidate capable of delivering these three things and tonight it is clear that I am also the only one capable of drawing support from the whole of the party.”
The winner is due to be announced on September 9 after voting by Tory members.
Only two of the 329 Tory MPs did not vote last night, David Cameron and Speaker John Bercow. Chancellor George Osborne is believed to have voted for Mrs May.
Mrs May’s aides last night said they were confident of the support of Leave campaigner Priti Patel. Team Gove believed they had the Employment Minister signed up.
A YouGov poll for The Times yesterday revealed Mr Gove’s reputation with party members has collapsed since he knifed Boris Johnson last week by withdrawing his support for the ex-London Mayor’s campaign to be PM. His personal rating has gone from plus 41 to minus 20 in a week.
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