Theresa May: General Election and second referendum not on the cards
Home Secretary officially announces she will bid to become Conservative leader
- Dramatic day at Westminster where Michael Gove has turned on Boris Johnson's candidacy
- Last Thursday's EU referendum result has triggered political chaos in the United Kingdom
Home Secretary Theresa May officially announced on Thursday her intention to run for the leadership of the Conservative party and said that from her perspective, there would be no chance of an early general elction or a second referendum on the UK's relationship with the EU.
May also said that there should be no panic over whether to inoke article 50 or not so soon, believing that it should be delayed until at least next year.
She argued that the country needed "strong leadership and a clear sense of direction" in the coming years.
"I want to use this opportunity to make several things clear. First, Brexit means Brexit … the public gave their verdict. There must be no attempts to remain inside the EU, no attempts to rejoin it through the backdoor, and no second referendum," she said at a press conference.
She argued that the country needed "strong leadership and a clear sense of direction" in the coming years.
"Second, there should be no general election until 2020. There should be a normal autumn statement held in the normal way, at the normal time, and no emergency budget.
"And there should be no decision to invoke article 50 before the British negotiating strategy is agreed and clear, which means article 50 should not be invoked until the end of this year."
The Home Secretary is the current favourite with bookmakers to be the next leader of the party following Michael Gove's announcement today that he would be contesting also.
Previously it was thought that Gove would not contest but support the campaign of fellow Leave campaigner Boris Johnson, who has now said he will not bid to become prime minister.
