Tory leadership hopefuls hang fire despite Brexit delay – for now
Prime Minister Theresa May returned from the last Brussels summit with another extension.
The clock is ticking down to the end of Theresa May’s premiership, but midnight seems to have been pushed a little further back over the weekend.
A clamour for her to quit followed the latest Brexit delay but this seems to have been quelled by Cabinet colleagues apparently willing to prop up the PM in the short term.
The Tories jockeying for position ahead of the big race are:
Boris Johnson
The former foreign secretary’s latest Daily Telegraph column sets out his leadership stall, calling for the country to be able to move on from Brexit and refocus on tax cuts and tackling crime.
Sajid Javid
Mr Javid has drawn criticism over the hostile environment policy towards immigration and his handling of asylum seekers crossing the Channel so may be trying to build a more compassionate image.
Dominic Raab
Mr Raab has had a series of articles in Sunday newspapers over the last few weeks as he tries to raise his profile and become more of a household name.
Michael Gove
Mr Gove has shown himself to be a strong performer, laying into Labour’s Brexit policy as bollocks during one memorable debate, and is also unfailingly complimentary to colleagues.
Andrea Leadsom
Mrs Leadsom has not wavered over Brexit either, still demanding German Chancellor Angela Merkel re-open the Withdrawal Agreement as late as last week, despite the EU negotiators’ refusal to countenance this.
Penny Mordaunt
Ms Mordaunt’s experience as a Royal Naval Reservist, serving as an acting sub-lieutenant, should stand her in good stead as accusations of sexism among some in the ERG faction continue to swirl.
