Let’s see May’s Brexit strategy and how she settles on a new Cabinet

ANDREA Leadsom’s quest to be our next Prime Minister ended as it began – in farce and failure.

Some might praise Mrs Leadsom for quitting upon realising she wasn’t up to the task. Not us.

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From the outset of the contest she appeared too inexperienced to be a serious candidate to lead the country, and under the first real scrutiny Leadsom and her campaign fell apart.

A single newspaper interview shouldn’t be enough to derail even the most junior MP, yet Leadsom’s bungled efforts with The Times last Saturday betrayed a dreadful lack of judgment.

She has shown she’s entirely unsuited for high office and the wisdom of the 84 Tory MPs who backed her must now be questioned.

Worse still, her overconfidence and risible retreat have robbed Britain of a proper contest — something The Sun called for from the start.

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Theresa May might be the right choice for next PM, but it’s concerning that her plans for the country haven’t been fully examined before she moves into Downing Street.

The last time the UK witnessed a competent Cabinet minister take the top job without any competition — when Gordon Brown succeeded Tony Blair — the result was disastrous.

We sincerely hope Mrs May has the right ideas for Britain, and her speech yesterday was a good start.

She’s right to pinpoint the inequalities in society, and her idea to put employees on company boards to curb the salaries of greedy fatcats is welcome.

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But it’s on Brexit that ‘reluctant remainer’ Theresa May will really be tested.

Mrs May yesterday repeated her mantra that “Brexit means Brexit” and ruled out any attempts at a second referendum.

This is the right stance and both this and her economic proposals show she understands that millions of people across Britain have had enough of the status quo — where unchecked immigration and a London-centric economy benefit the very rich while the rest lose out.

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But to convince the country she’s serious about making Brexit work, Mrs May must ensure her Cabinet makes use of all the talents in the Tory Party — in particular appointing a capable Brexiteer, such as Michael Gove, to lead negotiations with Brussels.

We’re pleased that David Cameron has moved quickly and Theresa May will be PM on Wednesday.

This will provide the country and the economy with some much-needed certainty.

Then we need to see a clear plan for Britain leaving the EU as quickly as possible.

The Tory leadership contest might be over, but the real test for May is just beginning.