Announcing his decision to stand down as Prime Minister and Conservative leader, David Cameron said: “I do not think it would be right for me to try to be the captain that steers our country to its next destination.”
In the EU referendum he fought “directly and passionately” with “head, heart and soul” for a Remain vote but “the British people have made a very clear decision to take a different path and as such I think the country requires fresh leadership to take it in this direction.”
David Cameron says he will resign as Prime Minister. He bid an emotional farewell outside 10 Downing Street.https://t.co/fQan0z3LPo
— Channel 4 News (@Channel4News) June 24, 2016
It was a powerful point. How can you credibly carry out a task you don’t believe in? Of course a Prime Minister has lots to do but over the next two or three years the Brexit arrangements will be a pretty bulky item in the in tray.
That will make it difficult for anyone seeking to be Prime Minister who supported the Remain campaign – with all its lurid claims of the inevitable disaster that Brexit would represent.
The Home Secretary Theresa May could contrast her low key campaigning with Cameron’s passion and energy. But then diving for cover on such a fundamental decision is scarcely evidence of heroic leadership credentials.
Stephen Crabb, the Work and Pensions Secretary, is another leadership contender. He was rather more assertive as a Remain supporter in the EU referendum campaign.
.@ScrabbMP: "I was brought up to believe that no one was better than me, and I was better than no one else" https://t.co/dnUkuAKlbg
— Sky News (@SkyNews) June 29, 2016
For instance he said “quitting EU would mean 500,000 job losses”. He said it was “vitally important” for us to stay in the single market.
Sajid Javid, the Business Secretary, is backing Crabb. Javid says: “We’re all Brexiteers now.”
Politicians do shrug off u-turns from time to time. But that sentiment will be met with hollow laughter by many in the Conservative Party and the media.
Boris Johnson had the advantage as a candidate that he is seeking to implement a decision that he agrees with – until he sensationally ducked out of the race on Thursday morning:
"That person cannot be me," @BorisJohnson rules himself out of #Toryleadership race https://t.co/K6pbNn362q https://t.co/fhkLY57nmh
— BBC Breaking News (@BBCBreaking) June 30, 2016
Crabb’s origins are impeccably humble. Then there is the attraction of Theresa May being a woman – which again Boris can’t do much about.
The poll in The Times this morning had May far out in front. But that was not a straight choice between her and any competitor.
There were various other candidates shown who won’t make it to the final round (or, in the case of David Davis, even stand at all) and whose support Boris may well hoover up.
Then we have this morning’s news that Michael Gove, the Justice Secretary will be a candidate. He is the most capable of the candidates. He was just as prominent as Boris on the Vote Leave campaign.
Gove's inspiring closing speech:A stronger, freer & fairer UK can be a progressive beacon for the whole world #bbcqthttps://t.co/du5S178Jft
— Vote Leave (@vote_leave) June 15, 2016
Gove would also – given stratospheric level of politeness – be well-placed to unite the Party.
Finally as Prime Minister he would give the Government a clear sense of mission. Reform would be pursued despite the howls from the special interests and the inertia of the civil servants.
Not least, of course, delivering a Full Monty Brexit rather than a diluted version.
The concern with Gove would be whether he is best-placed to win the General Election. Whether, even with a new leader, Labour would be likely to would rather calm fears in this respect.
There was talk before the last election of Sir Lynton Crosby finding some disobliging remarks about Gove from focus groups ,prompting Gove removal as Education Secretary to the lower-profile Justice Secretary role.
On the other hand Gove performed well before the studio audiences that he charmed during the EU debate. They seemed not only to agree with him
but warm to him on a personal level.
There may be a few other Tory MPs who stand in the early stages of the contest to raise their profile and get some points across they felt strongly about.
For instance Andrea Leadsom had a good referendum – both by being on the winning side and performing strongly.
Delighted to say I'm running for the @Conservatives Leadership.
Let's make the most of the Brexit opportunities!#FreshStart
— Andrea Leadsom MP (@andrealeadsom) June 30, 2016
But even though she announced that she will stand, it is hard to see her getting through to the final round.
The pundits reckoned that Boris Johnson is the favourite to be our next Prime Minister – shows how much they know. In previous Tory leadership contests the early favourite has stumbled – and we have seen this again today.
My bet was once that Boris would beat May in the final. But the Gove entry means I wouldn’t gamble much money on this race.
