by Paul Waugh | Politics
It was Lenin* who said “There are decades where nothing happens; and there are weeks where decades happen”. That’s what these past seven days certainly feel like, as the aftershocks of the Brexit vote continue to disorientate all our political parties. And today, we have at least five, possibly six, leadership bids for the Government and Opposition.
First up is Theresa May. Serious, dogged, principled, a calming influence at a time of anxiety, that’s the pitch from her team as she launches into what could be a very dirty fight with Boris Johnson. Expect a lot of talk about her being the Angela Merkel for the UK.
May’s piece in the Times is a direct hit on Boris’s weak underbelly: his perceived inconsistency, shambolic planning and Etonian background. “Some need to be told that what the government does isn't a game, it's a serious business that has real consequences for people's lives.” She also proposes a Brexit Department led by a Leaver.
Her six year stint as Home Secretary, as well as her ‘reluctant Remainer’ stance in the referendum (sharing a loyalty to David Cameron that many grassroots Tories share), are seen as her strongest cards. But May’s team also point to her record on social justice issues such as the Stephen Lawrence case, Hillsborough, Gary McKinnon and modern slavery and FGM.
Part of the early task was just to get enough MPs to believe that May could actually beat Boris in a run-off among the rank and file members. Today’s YouGov/Times poll gives her a substantial lead among party members, with the Home Secretary on 55% to Johnson’s 38%. One ally of Boris who knows the rubber chicken circuit better than most tells me that this fits with their experience up and down the country. Which is why Michael Gove’s support is crucial to cancelling it out (see below).
Another state-educated Tory, Stephen Crabb, had a successful launch yesterday, with an impressive speech and pitch as the John Major candidate. He too had a pop at Boris’s preference to wait for the rugby ball to pop out of the scrum rather than grab it with both hands. Crabb also had a real ‘new generation’ feel with key 2010 and 2015 backers.
Note that Liam Fox is set to launch too, but amid rumours that he is only doing so after May’s refusal to promise him the Foreign Secretary job he wanted (one ally tells me “Theresa never does deals and never will”).
First up is Theresa May. Serious, dogged, principled, a calming influence at a time of anxiety, that’s the pitch from her team as she launches into what could be a very dirty fight with Boris Johnson. Expect a lot of talk about her being the Angela Merkel for the UK.
May’s piece in the Times is a direct hit on Boris’s weak underbelly: his perceived inconsistency, shambolic planning and Etonian background. “Some need to be told that what the government does isn't a game, it's a serious business that has real consequences for people's lives.” She also proposes a Brexit Department led by a Leaver.
Her six year stint as Home Secretary, as well as her ‘reluctant Remainer’ stance in the referendum (sharing a loyalty to David Cameron that many grassroots Tories share), are seen as her strongest cards. But May’s team also point to her record on social justice issues such as the Stephen Lawrence case, Hillsborough, Gary McKinnon and modern slavery and FGM.
Part of the early task was just to get enough MPs to believe that May could actually beat Boris in a run-off among the rank and file members. Today’s YouGov/Times poll gives her a substantial lead among party members, with the Home Secretary on 55% to Johnson’s 38%. One ally of Boris who knows the rubber chicken circuit better than most tells me that this fits with their experience up and down the country. Which is why Michael Gove’s support is crucial to cancelling it out (see below).
Another state-educated Tory, Stephen Crabb, had a successful launch yesterday, with an impressive speech and pitch as the John Major candidate. He too had a pop at Boris’s preference to wait for the rugby ball to pop out of the scrum rather than grab it with both hands. Crabb also had a real ‘new generation’ feel with key 2010 and 2015 backers.
Note that Liam Fox is set to launch too, but amid rumours that he is only doing so after May’s refusal to promise him the Foreign Secretary job he wanted (one ally tells me “Theresa never does deals and never will”).
Former Fox aides like James Heappey went with Crabb yesterday, believing the ex Defence Sec was not running. Fox will be the only ‘traditional’ candidate for the Tory ‘Right’. But many of those - like David Davis - have opted for Boris already. Social liberals plus Thatcherites - that’s the Bozza coalition May may find most difficult to beat.
* Paul Waugh Is The Executive Director Politics, HuffPost, UK.
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