WEST Worcestershire MP Harriett Baldwin has spoken of her ‘clear delight’ after Theresa May was left the last candidate standing in the Conservative Leadership race.
May is, reportedly, expected to be the country’s next Prime Minister within days or possibly sooner after her main and final rival Andrea Leadsom sensationally pulled out of the race earlier today (Monday).
A Conservative leadership contest has been held within the past week following David Cameron’s resignation as Prime Minister in the wake of the EU Referendum result.
Mrs Baldwin backed Home Secretary May to be the next leader saying she was the best candidate to go head to head with EU chiefs in upcoming negotiations.
She said: “As one of the two-thirds of the parliamentary party who backed Theresa May as the next Prime Minister, I am clearly delighted that she has now won the role on an uncontested basis.
“I was delighted that Andrea put her name forward and two excellent female Conservative MPs made it to the final shortlist. She has made a good and right decision at this time to withdraw from the process.
“She has a bright future in politics and I am very proud to be her colleague.”
Mrs Leadsom said in a statement that srong leadership was ‘urgently’ needed: “Strong leadership is needed urgently to begin the work of withdrawing from the European Union. A nine-week leadership campaign at such a critical moment is highly undesirable.”
Her statement come after she had apologised to Mrs May after suggesting in a weekend newspaper interview that being a mother made her a better candidate for the job.
The voting for a new Conservative leader began last week with other candidates Liam Fox and Michael Gove losing their bid.
Work and Pensions Secretary Stephen Crabb also pulled out after the first round of votes.
