Isabel Hardman Isabel Hardman

And then there was one… Theresa May’s team prepare for government

Chris Grayling has given this very brief statement on behalf of Theresa May in the past few minutes:

‘Can I start by thanking on behalf of Theresa May and on behalf of everyone involved in Theresa’s campaign team by thanking and paying a warm tribute to Andrea Leadsom. Her actions this morning have shown what a principled and decent politician she is and how willing she is to put the interests of the country before her own. She is a true public servant. Theresa is currently on her way back to London from Birmingham and she will make a statement later today. But on her behalf I’d just like to say that she is enormously honoured to have been entrusted with this task by so many of her parliamentary colleagues. As Andrea’s statement made clear this morning, now is the time for us to unite as a party and to get on with the job of doing everything we can to secure a strong and prosperous and successful future for our country. I know, we all know that Theresa will do everything she can to equip our country for the challenges that lie ahead. Thank you.’

Theresa May will be the new Tory Prime Minister. When that will be confirmed isn’t yet clear, but already there is interest in how she will govern as that new Prime Minister, who she will have in her Cabinet, and what policies she will ditch. This comes before there has been much scrutiny of her record as Home Secretary, given there will now be no leadership contest. Of course, this makes things much easier for May, but it does mean that some of those who supported her, and the members who now have no chance to vote on their new leader, may be in for some surprises.

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