Tory leadership race starts; Crabb, Javid to run on joint ticket

The first candidates for the Conservative leadership race declared themselves on Wednesday as nominations opened for the successor to Prime Minister David Cameron.

The contest was triggered by Cameron's resignation after his campaign to remain in the European Union was rejected by voters in a referendum last week. Candidates have until midday on Thursday to declare.

Home Secretary Teresa May and Boris Johnson were expected to throw their hats into the ring. Johnson is seen as favourite as the head of the 'Leave' campaign, although many are uncomfortable with his constant shifting of position to further his own political interests.

May is seen as the most credible of the candidates that are fast becoming known as “anyone but Boris”. A hardline right winger, she in march said whatever the outcome of the referendum the UK should withdraw from the European Convention on Human Rights – drawn up by Britain after World War 2.

Work & pensions Secretary Stephen Crabb (pictured) said he would stand on a joint ticket with Business Secretary Sajid Javid.
Crabb said he run as a “one nation” candidate. Javid told the BBC he expected to be chancellor, or finance minister, if his running mate was successful. Both me campaigned to remain in the EU.

Crabb told the Daily Telegraph, said he he would be a unifying candidate, bringing together MPs on both sides of the Brexit debate into his administration, and ruled out a second vote on the issue.

"The verdict was clear; there is no going back. A second referendum is out of the question. What the country needs now is a clear direction, not further instability."

"This referendum has cast a harsh light on the deep economic and social divisions that still blight our country. People are stuck on low wages - even no wages - despairing at their hollowed-out town centres and a sense of being left behind in a fast-changing world.”

Education Secretary Nicky Morgan, also a pro-EU MP, said she was "actively considering" running for the leadership.
She told the BBC the referendum result showed a "divided nation", between "young and old, north and south" and said the party needed to unite the country and appeal to the centre ground of British politics.

"Of course we have to deal with the result from last week and the exit negotiations from the EU to get the possible deal for the British people, but we cannot have the next three and a half years until 2020 defined by just Europe," she said.

Morgan also called for a "proper grown up debate" on immigration, saying there was "a positive case to be made for immigration" that was not often heard.

"It's incumbent on politicians to make the case that it is not for blaming immigrants about jobs and housing. Actually, it is up to us to provide the solutions and support to people," she said.

Other contenders include Brexit campaigners Liam Fox and Andrea Leadsom.