By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Accept
DailynewsegyptDailynewsegypt
  • Home
  • Business
    BusinessShow More
    Tatweer Misr breaks sales record in H1 2023
    Tatweer Misr breaks sales record in H1 2023
    September 25, 2023
    Real estate exports boost Egypt’s economy, Cityscape panel reveals
    Real estate exports boost Egypt’s economy, Cityscape panel reveals
    September 25, 2023
    SODIC reports 22% sales growth in 2023
    SODIC reports 22% sales growth in 2023
    September 25, 2023
    Huawei partners with Egypt to transfer modern technologies for digital transformation: Madkour
    Huawei partners with Egypt to transfer modern technologies for digital transformation: Madkour
    September 25, 2023
    HSBC plans climate tech funding push
    HSBC plans climate tech funding push
    September 25, 2023
  • Politics
    PoliticsShow More
    Presidential election in Egypt set for 10-12 December
    Presidential election in Egypt set for 10-12 December
    September 25, 2023
    Defence Minister meets NATO Military Committee chief
    Defence Minister meets NATO Military Committee chief
    September 25, 2023
    Egypt, Jordan, and Iraq discuss economic, political cooperation in New York
    Egypt, Jordan, and Iraq discuss economic, political cooperation in New York
    September 24, 2023
    Al-Sisi highlights opportunities for mutual benefit with China
    Al-Sisi highlights opportunities for mutual benefit with China
    September 24, 2023
    Egypt, India affirm their strategic partnership, discuss regional issues
    Egypt, India affirm their strategic partnership, discuss regional issues
    September 24, 2023
  • Interviews
    InterviewsShow More
    Microsoft Egypt aims to provide advanced AI models, build solid AI ecosystem: Mirna Arif
    Microsoft Egypt aims to provide advanced AI models, build solid AI ecosystem: Mirna Arif
    September 18, 2023
    I love privacy, and I am not concerned about competition: Yasmine Sabry
    I love privacy, and I am not concerned about competition: Yasmine Sabry
    September 14, 2023
    Sustainability, digital transformation at the heart of our strategy: Heidelberg Materials Egypt
    Sustainability, digital transformation at the heart of our strategy: Heidelberg Materials Egypt
    September 12, 2023
    India welcomes Egypt's BRICS membership: Boosting trade, investment, and access to strategic commodities
    India welcomes Egypt’s BRICS membership: Boosting trade, investment, and access to strategic commodities
    September 11, 2023
    The box office is not a measure of success: Basma Hassan
    The box office is not a measure of success: Basma
    September 6, 2023
  • Culture
  • Opinion
  • Sports
  • Lifestyle
Reading: Theresa May and Andrea Leadsom to go head to head in UK
Share
Notification
Latest News
Presidential election in Egypt set for 10-12 December
Presidential election in Egypt set for 10-12 December
Politics Egypt
Tatweer Misr breaks sales record in H1 2023
Tatweer Misr breaks sales record in H1 2023
Business
Real estate exports boost Egypt’s economy, Cityscape panel reveals
Real estate exports boost Egypt’s economy, Cityscape panel reveals
Business
SODIC reports 22% sales growth in 2023
SODIC reports 22% sales growth in 2023
Business
Huawei partners with Egypt to transfer modern technologies for digital transformation: Madkour
Huawei partners with Egypt to transfer modern technologies for digital transformation: Madkour
Business
Aa
Aa
DailynewsegyptDailynewsegypt
  • Home
  • Business
  • Politics
  • Interviews
  • Culture
  • Opinion
  • Sports
  • Lifestyle
  • Home
  • Business
  • Politics
  • Interviews
  • Culture
  • Opinion
  • Sports
  • Lifestyle
Have an existing account? Sign In
Follow US
  • Advertise
© 2023 DNE News. All Rights Reserved.
Dailynewsegypt > Blog > World > Theresa May and Andrea Leadsom to go head to head in UK
World

Theresa May and Andrea Leadsom to go head to head in UK

Deutsche Welle
Last updated: 2016/07/08 at 4:26 AM
By Deutsche Welle 6 Min Read
Share
SHARE

Conservative MPs have picked an experienced minister and a novice Brexiter as their leadership candidates. The selection of two women closed the door on Justice Secretary Michael Gove, Samira Shackle reports from London.
The next prime minister of Britain will be a woman. On Thursday, the Conservatives chose two female MPs to put forward to party activists in the contest to replace David Cameron. Home Secretary Theresa May (pictured) and junior Energy Minister Andrea Leadsom triumphed in the second round of voting, winning 199 and 84 votes, respectively.

The fortnight since the referendum on Britain’s EU membership has been a tumultuous political period. Justice Secretary Michael Gove entered the premiership contest last Thursday after a dramatic intervention to prevent the candidacy of his fellow “Leave” campaigner and leadership front-runner Boris Johnson. Gove was knocked out of the contest Thursday after gaining the backing of just 46 MPs.

“Going by recent polling in the first round, this is pretty much how everyone expected it to go,” said Adam Wildman, economy lead at the Conservative think tank ResPublica. “May is obviously the runaway candidate, with over 60 percent of MPs backing her. I think Gove was punished for his Judas/Brutus act against Johnson.”

The next prime minister will be chosen not by the wider electorate but by 150,000 members of the Conservative Party. The winner needs more than 50 percent of votes cast, with the result announced September 9.

‘An unknown quantity’

Until recent days, Leadsom, who has very little public profile and hasn’t held a major governmental role, was viewed as a rank outsider. “Leadsom hasn’t been a contender in the years and years of ‘runners and riders’ journalism we’ve all taken part in,” Conservative writer Kate Maltby said. “It’s not just that she’s an unknown quantity, but that she benefits from not having become a cartoon character and being seen to aspire to power for these last few years – unlike Gove and May.”

Though May clearly has a large lead amongst the parliamentary Conservative party, she must now convince members. Her hard-line policies on immigration, detention, civil liberties and the European Convention of Human Rights (which she wants to scrap, despite backing “Remain” in the Brexit vote), have won her favor among the membership.

“May is the front-runner, but Leadsom clearly has a chance, both because of her profile in the Leave campaign and because she has managed to secure support of leading figures like Johnson,” said Matt Cole, a teaching fellow in the Department of History at Birmingham University. “She offers newness and a clear position in favor of the decision in the referendum. On the other side you have May, with experience and credibility from the right of the party. She was also clearly able to keep the trust of the ‘Remain’ side of the party, and the hope there will be a balanced settlement and a realistic approach to negotiations of exit from the EU. Unity versus leave would be too simple a way of putting it, but one candidate clearly gains their main identity from being prepared to stand up for the ‘Leave’ opinion, while the other gains their authority from experience and ability to reach out across the party.”

Battle lines

With the backing of a significant majority of Conservative MPs, May is currently the clear front-runner, but the membership has historically voted in favor of newcomers and Euroskeptics. Cameron, who was elected in 2005 as a relative parliamentary novice, is just one example of the party membership’s preference for disruption.

But Wildman cautions against putting too much stock in past leadership contests. “In 2005, members were selecting a leader of the opposition, several years away from a general election,” Wildman said. “This is electing a prime minister. It’s a different proposition during this time when there’s a negotiating process to contend with, when the economy may hit the brakes with plummeting investor and business confidence. May’s argument – and I personally agree with it – will be that you need a firm hand on the wheel.”

Most are expecting May to present herself as the ‘serious’ candidate, while Leadsom – backed by Nigel Farage and other prominent figures from the UK Independence Party – plays up her Euroskeptic credentials. “Even the most Euroskeptic of Conservative members know that we will need a hard negotiator, so May’s campaign will be looking to emphasize her experience,” Maltby said. “No one wants the country to be led by a beginner. But it will be a tough campaign. One problem for May’s campaign is that if Leadsom’s recent behavior is anything to go by, she will spend the campaign making impossible promises, which May as a government minister will find it harder to match.”

You Might Also Like

Pope Francis denounces ‘invasion’ rhetoric on migrants

World leaders adopt political declaration to eradicate poverty, protect planet

Shoukry, Cleverly discuss boosting Egypt-UK ties, regional issues

Opinion| France loses its African “colonies” after coups

Opinion| Camp David Summit and efforts to form ‘Asian NATO’ to confront China

TAGGED: Britain, Conservative MPs, David Cameron, prime minister, UK
Share this Article
Facebook Twitter Email Print
Previous Article Germany redefines rape: A survey of international laws
Next Article Euro 2016: France go to final after beating Germany
Leave a comment

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Ad image
Ad image

Stay Connected

Facebook Like
Twitter Follow
Instagram Follow
Youtube Subscribe

Latest News

Presidential election in Egypt set for 10-12 December
Presidential election in Egypt set for 10-12 December
Politics Egypt
Tatweer Misr breaks sales record in H1 2023
Tatweer Misr breaks sales record in H1 2023
Business
Real estate exports boost Egypt’s economy, Cityscape panel reveals
Real estate exports boost Egypt’s economy, Cityscape panel reveals
Business
SODIC reports 22% sales growth in 2023
SODIC reports 22% sales growth in 2023
Business
//
Egypt’s only independent daily newspaper in English. Discuss the country’s latest with the paper’s reporters, editors, and other readers.

Quick Link

  • Home
  • Business
  • Politics
  • Interviews
  • Culture
  • Opinion
  • Sports
  • Lifestyle

Sign Up for Our Newsletter

Subscribe to our newsletter to get our newest articles instantly!

© 2023 DNE News. All Rights Reserved.

Join Us!

Subscribe to our newsletter and never miss our latest news, podcasts etc..

Zero spam, Unsubscribe at any time.

Removed from reading list

Undo
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Lost your password?