BOJO SELECTA
Tory big beasts led by Boris Johnson start scramble to succeed May as Matt Hancock enters race
We take a look at the runners and riders jostling for the Tory top job
TORY big beasts led by Boris Johnson have started the scramble to succeed Theresa May with remainer Matt Hancock being the latest to confirm that he WILL run for Prime Minister.
More than a dozen MPs are likely to stand and two of the front-runners entered the race almost immediately after the PM tearfully announced her resignation.
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Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt became the first to say he was running. Then, odds-on favourite BoJo told a conference in Switzerland: “Of course, I will be running for Prime Minister.”
This morning Matt Hancock threw his hat into the ring officially too.
The most unexpected candidate is likely to be Sir Graham Brady, who stood down as chairman of the 1922 Committee of backbench Tory MPs to consider a tilt at the top job.
Amber Rudd ruled out a bid for No10 but said she could serve in a BoJo cabinet.
But in a sign it will be a bitterly divisive contest, Brexiteers were warned not to make unrealistic promises they could not keep.
Defence Minister Tobias Ellwood told them: “If the Brexit experience to date has taught us anything, it’s to avoid making promises and drawing red lines you may later regret or cannot honour. Trust in our party is low. The Parliamentary maths have not changed.”
The contest officially begins when Mrs May goes on June 7.
Brexit-backing Mr Johnson is the bookies’ favourite and is popular with Tory activists.
But he has less support among MPs, who will whittle down the list to two — to be voted for by the party’s members.
Mr Johnson made it clear his campaign would focus on securing Brexit by the Halloween deadline set by EU leaders.
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TEARIO THERESA!
He vowed: “We will leave the EU on October 31, deal or no deal. The job of our next leader in the UK, he or she, is to get out of the EU properly and put Brexit to bed.”
Others ready to run include Health Secretary Matt Hancock, who teed up his candidacy at a Lords bash on Wednesday.
One onlooker told The Sun: “People listening were left certain he was going to run for Prime Minister.”
Former Brexit Secretary Dominic Raab received an early boost when Tory party vice-chair Helen Grant quit her job to campaign for him.
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She said: “Dominic Raab has an inspiring vision for a fairer Britain.”
Other Cabinet ministers expected to stand — including Defence Secretary Penny Mordaunt, Home Secretary Sajid Javid and Environment Secretary Michael Gove — kept their powder dry yesterday and just paid tribute to outgoing Mrs May.
Mr Gove did receive early support from backbencher Bob Seely, who tweeted that he would “lead and renew” while delivering Brexit.
International Development Secretary Rory Stewart made no announcement — but has already made his intentions clear.
In an interview, he promised to tackle everyday injustices by scrapping hospital parking charges, keeping Post Offices afloat and improving rural broadband.
Backbencher Sir Graham has spent much of the year dealing with irate colleagues who wanted rid of Mrs May.
As he unexpectedly quit his 1922 committee role, he said: “I’ve been approached by a number of colleagues across the party both inside and outside Parliament asking me to put myself forward as a candidate.”
“Therefore I have taken the decision to stand down to ensure a fair and transparent election process.”
Another outsider, self-styled Brexit hardman Steve Baker, revealed he might stand. He said: “Some colleagues have said I should consider it.”
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The Sun Says
ONLY those with a heart of stone can have remained unmoved by the dignity of Theresa May’s public resignation and the emotion that finally overcame her.
For all that her critics have thrown at her, The Sun included, who could fail to recognise the monstrous strain she has endured for three years?
Or her overwhelming sorrow at giving up the job she has wanted her whole life, with so little to show for it?
This PM will be remembered now for her failure to deliver Brexit. It will be ungenerous not to remember too her unshakeable dedication to her country and remarkable perseverance against what became insurmountable odds.
She is a good person. She did her best.
But she is a poor Prime Minister and the author of her own downfall.
She appointed a Cabinet of loyal friends largely devoid of talent.
She credulously swallowed bad advice from a staunchly europhile and dysfunctional civil service.
She lacked vital traits for a leader: core beliefs, confidence, decisiveness, mental agility, communication skills and a willingness to trust and delegate.
These failings, and a suicidal manifesto, were exposed at the 2017 election. Stripped of her majority, she foolishly tried to pretend “nothing has changed” and made promises she couldn’t keep.
She negotiated a Brexit deal which was bad enough even before Monday’s final, fatal compromises.
Mrs May described what she sees as her legacy. It is thin gruel. The economy is doing fine, the job market booming. But she did next to nothing for Sun readers, for the “just about managings”.
Brexit is undone, like her “social justice” agenda. Our democracy is in disarray, Britain divided, her party at historic poll lows. She leaves her successor an even more colossal task than her own.
Whoever that is must, above all, stop Corbyn’s thuggish extremists winning power. That can only be done by delivering Brexit — yes, with No Deal if need be — and somehow seeing off the Brexit Party whose surge could let Corbyn in.
Winning the battle of ideas against the Marxist Left will be far simpler.
Who is best placed to do it?
It must be a Brexiteer ready to appoint a younger, fresher, far more talented top team. There are plenty of able Tories in the ranks, their paths blocked by Cabinet duds who must be swept away.
Leave-backing MPs must avoid splitting their vote and letting another Remainer into No10. The party may not survive it. Nor, we believe, will its members tolerate any attempt by MPs to block their favourite candidates. They now have Nigel Farage’s party to join.
Mrs May has left the Tories in dire straits and with one chance to survive.
For their sake — and Britain’s — they had better make the right choice.
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THE BIG BEASTS
BORIS JOHNSON, 54
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PROS: THE Godfather of Brexit is a Tory activists’ favourite. A proven winner, he twice became mayor in London, a Labour stronghold.
Seen as the only Tory who can stave off the threat posed by Nigel Farage and the Brexit Party.
CONS: DISTRUSTED by many MPs who are not taken in by his charm. Disorganised and often not bothered to grasp the detail of issues. Tangled private life, with two broken marriages and multiple mistresses, could deter older activists.
DOMINIC RAAB, 45
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PROS: VOCAL Brexit backer prepared to leave Brussels with no deal — a move popular with Tory activists.
Wants 5p Income Tax cut and, as a lawyer experienced with EU legislation, has the expertise to take on Brussels in fresh negotiations.
CONS: FROSTY. Likened by critics to a James Bond baddie and will bomb with swing voters. Unwillingness to compromise on Brexit could put off moderates. Gaffe-prone. Confessed he did not know Dover-Calais crossing’s importance to trade.
MICHAEL GOVE, 51
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PROS: AN ideas man who ushered in blitz on plastics and rolled out free schools. Adopted and raised in humble background in Aberdeen.
Rabble-rousing speaker on Brexit. Seen by some Scottish Tories as the last hope for the Union.
CONS: SEEN as disloyal after knifing Boris Johnson at the last leadership contest. Hated by teachers during his time as Education Secretary. Geeky and lacking common touch. Once admitted: “Whatever charisma is, I don’t have it.”
JEREMY HUNT, 52
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PROS: PLENTY of Cabinet experience. Longest serving Health Secretary before moving to Foreign Office.
A Remainer who says he would now vote Brexit, he is seen as a unifier in a divided party. Clever and confident public speaker.
CONS: SEEN as smooth PR man, his brand of politics risks bombing with voters seeking authenticity
Knifed Theresa May by telling her to drop her Brexit Bill a day before she quit. Very unpopular with doctors as Health Secretary.
SAJID JAVID, 49
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PROS: BUS driver’s son who became a multi-millionaire banker. Buttressed law and order credentials by reviving stop and search and promising cash to tackle knife crime.
A born-again Brexiteer, he is very popular among activists.
CONS: WEAK speaker who often stumbles over his words at big events.
Seen as intellectual lightweight who chases headlines rather than devising his own agenda. Twice caught out on foreign holidays while his department was in crisis.
MATT HANCOCK, 40
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PROS: ENTHUSIASTIC and fizzing with ideas, he is viewed as the leading candidate of the Tory modernisers.
Digital superfan with eye-catching ideas such as his own app. Youngest in Cabinet at 40. Would help overhaul party’s tired image.
CONS: HAS served only a short stint as a senior Cabinet minister.
As a Remainer, he will struggle to win over the overwhelmingly Brexit-backing activists. Has yet to make a mark as a reformer with his vision for a domestic agenda.
AND THE OUTSIDERS
ANDREA LEADSOM
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A LEADING Brexiteer, her leadership chances were boosted this week after she quit as Commons leader in protest at the PM’s botched Brexit compromise.
ODDS: 18/1
RORY STEWART
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AID Secretary and ex- tutor to Princes Harry and William. Trekked 6,000 miles through Afghanistan and Pakistan. Brad Pitt bought movie rights to his life story.
ODDS: 20/1
PENNY MORDAUNT
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EX-magician’s assistant, newly-promoted Defence Secretary has long association with Armed Forces, and backing Brexit means big grassroots following.
ODDS: 20/1
SIR GRAHAM BRADY
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BOSS of the powerful 1922 Committee of Tory MPs, which was instrumental in forcing Theresa May to leave No10, is now eyeing up the leadership himself.
ODDS: 25/1
STEVE BAKER
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SELF-styled hardman of Brexit, the shop steward of Tories’ European Research Group came out of left field to suggest he might throw his hat into the ring.
ODDS: 50/1
ESTHER MCVEY
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FORMER GMTV host resigned as work and pensions minister over May’s handling of Brexit. Will launch leadership bid with a tour of pubs across the UK.
ODDS: 66/1
AMBER RUDD
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PRO-REMAIN Cabinet minister may attract party moderates, but her wafer-thin majority and lack of backing among Tory activists makes her unlikely candidate.
ODDS: 80/1
PRITI PATEL
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ARDENT Brexiteer who flew back from Africa to be sacked by Theresa May for holding secret meetings with Israeli politicians. Could attract Eurosceptics.
ODDS: 80/1
LIZ TRUSS
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A MODERN Thatcherite and Brexiteer who is renowned for her love of fashion as much as her passion for a small state and low taxes.
ODDS: 80/1
Theresa May in tears as she confirms she is standing down as leader of the Conservative Party
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