Race to No10: May achieves easy win in first round of voting

[Blackleaf]

Theresa May said she was the only leadership candidate who can unite the Conservative Party and the country in the wake of the Brexit vote, after receiving the overwhelming support of Tory MPs in her attempt to become the next prime minister.

Mrs May established a firm lead in the first round of voting, winning the support of more than half of the party’s MPs. Former Defence Secretary Liam Fox, who was eliminated from the contest, and Stephen Crabb, who withdrew due to lack of support, also gave her their backing.

The Home Secretary was backed by 165 MPs, guaranteeing a place in the final run-off ballot of Conservative Party members unless she loses supporters over the next few days.

Andrea Leadsom, the energy minister, was second with 66 votes. Eurosceptic Justice Secretary Michael Gove came third with 48 votes.

Mr Crabb, the Work and Pensions Secretary, received support from 34 backbenchers, and Dr Fox, the former defence secretary, from just 16.

Conservative leadership election: Theresa May wins more than half of MPs' votes as Stephen Crabb pulls out and Liam Fox is eliminated

Tough-talking Theresa May is the favourite to succeed David Cameron as Conservative leader after finishing top of the MPs' ballot by a comfortable margin Credit: AP

Danny Boyle
Michael Wilkinson, Political Correspondent
Peter Dominiczak, Political Editor
Steven Swinford
Ben Riley-Smith
Szu Ping Chan
5 July 2016
The Telegraph

Stephen Crabb withdraws from the race and backs Theresa May
Liam Fox is knocked out of leadership race after first-round vote
Theresa May leads pack in contest to decide next Prime Minister
Andrea Leadsom wins more support than Michael Gove
Veteran Tory Ken Clarke caught on camera ridiculing candidates
What do the Tory leadership candidates stand for?

Theresa May said she was the only leadership candidate who can unite the Conservative Party and the country in the wake of the Brexit vote, after receiving the overwhelming support of Tory MPs in her attempt to become the next prime minister.

Theresa May leaves No10 Credit: WILL OLIVER

Mrs May established a firm lead in the first round of voting, winning the support of more than half of the party’s MPs. Former Defence Secretary Liam Fox, who was eliminated from the contest, and Stephen Crabb, who withdrew due to lack of support, also gave her their backing.

The Home Secretary was backed by 165 MPs, guaranteeing a place in the final run-off ballot of Conservative Party members unless she loses supporters over the next few days.

Andrea Leadsom, the energy minister, was second with 66 votes. Eurosceptic Justice Secretary Michael Gove, came third with 48 votes.

Mr Crabb, the Work and Pensions Secretary, received support from 34 backbenchers, and Dr Fox, the former defence secretary, from just 16.

Andrea Leadsom finished second in the first round of voting

Mrs May said: “I am pleased with this result, and very grateful to my colleagues for their support. There is a big job before us: to unite our party and the country, to negotiate the best possible deal as we leave the EU, and to make Britain work for everyone.

“I am the only candidate capable of delivering these three things as prime minister, and tonight it is clear that I am also the only one capable of drawing support from the whole of the Conservative Party.”

Her margin of victory will bolster calls for the other candidates to withdraw and allow her to become leader immediately, to provide stability following the vote to leave the European Union.

Work and Pensions Minister Stephen Crabb has withdrawn from the contest due to lack of support Credit: Chris J Ratcliffe

Mark Carney, meanwhile, said that Britain is “strong” enough to cope with the impact of the Brexit vote and promised to help businesses “seize new opportunities”. The Governor of the Bank of England sought to reassure households and companies that banks and building societies were open for business and that credit channels would not dry up.

With Mrs May in such a commanding lead, attention will turn to the contest between Mrs Leadsom and Mr Gove for second place. Both have insisted they will fight on.

Mrs May’s allies focused attacks on Mrs Leadsom. Amber Rudd, the Energy Secretary, said her colleague Mrs Leadsom was “a very good junior energy minister” but “you don’t need a novice right now”.

Mrs Leadsom’s supporters said they were delighted by the result and that she is now the favourite to make the final two. They fear Mrs May could “lend” votes to the Gove campaign in an attempt to determine who faces her in the run-off. They believe she would prefer a head-to-head with Mr Gove because of his perceived unpopularity among party members after his “betrayal” of Boris Johnson.

Senior supporters of Mr Gove admitted that Mr Johnson’s support for Andrea Leadsom had significantly dented the Justice Secretary’s chances of making the final two.

David Cameron was the only one of the 330 Tory MPs not to vote and sources last night said that he would remain neutral.

Former defence secretary Liam Fox, pictured earlier on Tuesday, was eliminated from the leadership contest after winning the support of just 16 MPs Credit: Dan Kitwood/Getty

Dr Fox said that he was “disappointed” to have been eliminated, adding, pointedly, that he had “sought to stress the need for experience as the successful candidate will have to take up the reins of government in less than nine weeks”.

This was taken as a signal that he will not back Mrs Leadsom. Senior Tories believe he now intends to back Mrs May.

Mr Gove’s backers insisted he is “still in the fight”.

Nicky Morgan, the Education Secretary, suggested that Mr Crabb’s support will go to Mr Gove, as they have similar views on social reform. But she admitted that Mr Johnson’s backing of Mrs Leadsom – after his own bid was torpedoed by the Justice Secretary – had been “difficult”.

George Osborne, the Chancellor, has yet to announce who he is supporting. Senior Tory sources expect him to back Mrs May. A series of old blog posts written by Mrs Leadsom emerged yesterday, in which she said she did not want Muslim teachers to wear veils and expressed discomfort about gay adoption.

A former colleague of hers in the banking industry also suggested that she had exaggerated her seniority in the sector, a claim which was vehemently denied by her spokesman.

Mrs May published details of her tax returns over the last four years on Tuesday night, putting pressure on Mrs Leadsom to do the same.

A statement from her bank, Coutts, revealed that last year she earned £118,462, including £5,000 in share dividends, and paid £40,000 income tax.

The leader will be chosen from these two in a ballot of around 150,000 Conservative Party members, which is due to end on Saturday, September 9.


Conservative leadership election: Theresa May wins more than half of MPs' votes as Stephen Crabb pulls out and Liam Fox is eliminated

 

[Cliffy]

Great Brittan is a land divided. It will stay that way because the ruling class want it that way. They have worked for centuries to divide and conquer the working slave classes. And, Blackhead, you are one of those slaves who adores his slave masters. It is quite pathetic to watch.

 

[Blackleaf]

Great Brittan is a land divided. It will stay that way because the ruling class want it that way. They have worked for centuries to divide and conquer the working slave classes. And, Blackhead, you are one of those slaves who adores his slave masters. It is quite pathetic to watch.

You could just as easily say that Britain is divided after each general election that is held.

As for the "working slave classes" - they have risen up and given the British Establishment, which for so long has ignored them and treated them with disdain, a bloody nose and two black eyes by voting for Brexit. This is the biggest revolution from the working classes against the Establishment in the British Isles since the 1381 Peasants' Revolt.

 

[Cliffy]

You could just as easily say that Britain is divided after each general election that is held.

As for the "working slave classes" - they have risen up and given the British Establishment, which for so long has ignored them and treated them with disdain, a bloody nose and two black eyes by voting for Brexit. This is the biggest revolution from the working classes against the Establishment in the British Isles since the 1381 Peasants' Revolt.

You think a vote is a revolt? How quaint. Do you think the ruling class will go quietly into the night. There will be much blood in the streets if "your revolution" is to hold. The unarmed peasants don't stand a chance against the fire power of the ruling elite. Good luck though. You'll need it.

 

[Blackleaf]

The unarmed peasants don't stand a chance against the fire power of the ruling elite.

I bet that's what many people thought during the referendum campaign when the firepower of the entire global establishment was used against the British electorate in order to get them to vote Remain. Yet it still wasn't enough. The British people still defied the global establishment by voting Brexit because the British people have been getting fed up of being bossed around and conveniently ignored by a largely unelected, unaccountable, distant, arrogant elite. By voting for Brexit we've put the entire global establishment, with all its firepower, onto the back foot.

As The Telegraph says today, at the time of writing (subject to hourly updates), we need:

1) A new presenter of Top Gear

2) A new leader of the Conservative Party and Prime Minister

3) A new leader of Ukip

4) A new leader of the Labour Party (previous incumbent still in post, pending further negotiations)

5) A new England football manager

6) A stiff drink

 

[Blackleaf]

Britain is definitely about to get only its second female Prime Minister.

The results in the second round of Tory MPs voting for their next leader have just been announced:

Theresa May: 199
Andrea Leadsom: 84
Michael Gove: 46

Gove has been eliminated.

The ballot of thousands of Tory Party members for the final two will take place on Friday 9th September.

 

[Tecumsehsbones]

Can't believe these politically correct librul commies're gonna have a split-tail playing the traditional male role of Prime Minister.

 

[Blackleaf]

Can't believe these politically correct librul commies're gonna have a split-tail playing the traditional male role of Prime Minister.

Prime Minister is not a male role. It's just that there are a lot more men capable of running countries than women, and most MPs are, thankfully, men.

 

[Tecumsehsbones]

Prime Minister is not a male role. It's just that there are a lot more men capable of running countries than women, and most MPs are, thankfully, men.

Oh? How many non-male PMs did you have before the Great PC Takeover of the 1970s?

 

[Blackleaf]

Oh? How many non-male PMs did you have before the Great PC Takeover of the 1970s?

None.

Non-male - or "female" as most people say.

You have to laugh, though: the PC, left-wing, Socialist, Marxist comrades of the Labour Party think they value "diversity and equality" much more so than everybody else, especially the evil, baby-eating, right-wing Tories.

Yet the only female PM we have had was a Tory and our next female PM will be a Tory. The Labour Party hasn't even had a female leader at all, never mind a female PM.

 

[Tecumsehsbones]

None.

So, every PM from Sir Robert Walpole to 1979 was male, but it's not a traditional male role.

OK, thanks.

 

[coldstream]

Didn't May campaign on the Remain side of the Brexit debate. It sounds like the Conservatives are looking for some way to put up some kind of appearance of exiting the union while putting in a stalwart EU committed leadership to prevent its realization. I doubt it will work.

The Brexit debate was only the first a series of shocks the EU will face over the coming months, perhaps a couple of years.. and will play out in British politics to detriment of the Conservatives if they try to put in some cosmetic formalities of independence that does not address the fundamental issue of sovereignty and control of borders.

Stephen Crabb was the most interesting of all the candidates the party establishment has rejected. The same forces that are tearing apart the political structure in the States will erupt in Britain if the Establishment attempts assert its globalist, post structural ideological control in the face of the resurgent nationalism and populism that is sweeping the West.

 

[Blackleaf]

Didn't May campaign on the Remain side of the Brexit debate. It sounds like the Conservatives are looking for some way to put up some kind of appearance of exiting the union while putting in a stalwart EU committed leadership to prevent its realization. I doubt it will work.

Theresa May was part of the Remain camp during the referendum campaign but, despite that, she has been known to be eurosceptic for many years. I think she's still eurosceptic deep down inside but campaigned for Britain to remain in the EU during the referendum because she thought it would help her prospects of becoming Prime Minister.

She's not the only politician who held views for one side for many years but switched sides as soon as the referendum came along. Labour's socialist leader Jeremy Corbyn has long advocated leaving the EU - but was then part of the Remain side as soon as the referendum came along!

Theresa May has said during her bid to become Tory leader and PM that "Out means out" and that Brexit really does mean leaving.

She's also vowed to set up a "ministry for Brexit" - which I think will be headed by Oliver Letwin - to negotiate Britain's exit out of the EU.

The Brexit debate was only the first a series of shocks the EU will face over the coming months, perhaps a couple of years.. and will play out in British politics to detriment of the Conservatives if they try to put in some cosmetic formalities of independence that does not address the fundamental issue of sovereignty and control of borders.

Theresa May has promised to take a hard line on immigration and has said she may use the EU nationals living in Britain as bargaining chips. She has refused to rule out the deportation of EU nationals living in Britain after the country leaves the European Union, amid fears that guaranteeing their rights at this stage could lead to a “huge influx” of migrants during the Brexit negotiation phase.

Stephen Crabb was the most interesting of all the candidates the party establishment has rejected. The same forces that are tearing apart the political structure in the States will erupt in Britain if the Establishment attempts assert its globalist, post structural ideological control in the face of the resurgent nationalism and populism that is sweeping the West.

Although Crabb is a Remainer, too.

And if the Establishment tries to scupper Brexit - and I doubt they will - then I suspect political carnage in the 2020 election!

And the British press are looking forward to Britain getting its second female PM. Well, some of it is - some papers are terrified at the thought that a right-wing, female Tory is about to run the country again, with the Labour supporting Daily Mirror saying "Be afraid... Be very afraid! Maggie II"...

Newspaper headlines: Press anticipate female prime minister

By Nigel Pankhurst BBC News

 

[coldstream]

Who ever it is, i just hope its not another Maggie. Britain needs a states(wo)man, not cawing crow.

 

[Blackleaf]

A row has erupted after Conservative leadership candidate Andrea Leadsom was accused of suggesting that having children made her a better choice to be prime minister.

The Times quotes the mother of three as saying having children meant she had "a very real stake" in Britain's future.

She later said she was "disgusted" with the interview's presentation.

Andrea Leadsom 'motherhood' comments spark row

BBC News
9 July 2016

A row has erupted after Conservative leadership candidate Andrea Leadsom was accused of suggesting that having children made her a better choice to be prime minister.

The Times quoted the mother of three as saying having children meant she had "a very real stake" in Britain's future.

She later said she was "disgusted" with the interview's presentation.

Times journalist Rachel Sylvester defended her article, saying she was "baffled" by Mrs Leadsom's reaction.

Mrs May, who has no children, has launched a "clean campaign" pledge and invited Mrs Leadsom "to join me in signing it". Her campaign team has declined to comment on the Times story.

'Did not want this to feature'

The Times headlined its front-page lead story: "Being a mother gives me edge on May - Leadsom."

It quoted the energy minister as saying Mrs May "possibly has nieces, nephews, lots of people. But I have children who are going to have children who will directly be part of what happens next".

Speaking outside her home in Northamptonshire, Mrs Leadson said she was "disgusted about how this has been presented".

"In the course of a lengthy interview yesterday, I was repeatedly asked about my children and I repeatedly made it clear that I did not want this in any way a feature of the campaign," she added.

Mrs Leadsom said: "I want to be crystal clear that everyone has an equal state in our society and in the future of our country. That is what I believe and it is what I have always believed... this campaign must at all times be principled and honourable."

In an earlier statement, she had said the reporting had been "beneath contempt".

But Ms Sylvester told the BBC the article was "fairly written up" and she was "baffled" by Mrs Leadsom's "rather aggressive reaction".

"I asked her a very straight forward question... She raised Theresa May," she said.

"I asked her directly 'what are the differences between you and Theresa May?'. She said 'economic competence and family'... she clearly thinks that is a big selling point with her."

Ms Sylvester added that she thought Mrs Leadsom was "naïve to make that comparison and not think it would become an issue".

The Times, which backed Remain in the EU referendum, has previously backed Mrs May to become the next Conservative leader.

Saturday's Times front page (Unrelated front page story altered for legal reasons)

Antoinette Sandbach, Conservative MP for Eddisbury, who is supporting Mrs May, said Mrs Leadsom had shown "a lack of judgement".

Treasury minister David Gauke - who supports Mrs May - said "an apology is due". He tweeted: "I'd like to think this is a case of verbal clumsiness, not calculation. If the latter, yuk."

But former Conservative MP Ann Widdecombe said: "Even the most experienced politicians, even prime ministers themselves, can be misquoted, misinterpreted, misunderstood, make some careless phraseology. It happens all the time."

Theresa May won the support of 199 Tory MPs to secure her place in the final two of the ballot

The row comes after Mrs May challenged her rival in the race to Downing Street to sign up to a "clean campaign pledge".

Mrs May said both candidates should ensure the campaign stays within "the acceptable limits of political debate".

The pair will battle it out to become the next Conservative leader after two rounds of voting reduced the contenders to two.

After the second MPs' ballot, Home Secretary Mrs May finished with 199 votes and Energy Minister Mrs Leadsom 84.

Conservative party members will now decide the winning candidate, with the result due on 9 September.

What Mrs Leadsom said:

Rachel Sylvester: "Do you feel like a mum in politics?"

Andrea Leadsom: "Yes. So...

RS: "Why and how?"

AL: "So really carefully because I am sure, I don't really know Theresa very well but I am sure she will be really really sad she doesn't have children so I don't want this to be 'Andrea has children, Theresa hasn't' because I think that would be really horrible.

"But genuinely I feel being a mum means you have a very real stake in the future of our country, a tangible stake.

"She possibly has nieces, nephews, lots of people, but I have children, who are going to have children, who will directly be a part of what happens next.

"So it really keeps you focused on 'what are you really saying?'. Because what it means is you don't want a downturn but 'never mind, let's look ahead to the ten years', hence it will all be fine. My children will be starting their lives in that next ten years so I have a real stake in the next year, the next two."

Conservative leadership election

Ballot papers sent out mid-August
Ballot closes noon on 9 September. Votes will be counted electronically
The 150,000 Tory members can vote by postal ballot or online
"Qualifying party members" of more than three months' standing can vote (anyone who joined the party by 9 June)
Spending limit set by Conservative 1922 Committee is £135,000
Hustings to be organised across UK

Contest guide


Andrea Leadsom 'motherhood' comments spark row - BBC News

Who ever it is, i just hope its not another Maggie. Britain needs a states(wo)man, not cawing crow.

Leadsom is my tip to become the new PM. Most of the up to 150,000 Tory Party members who will be voting for either Leadsom or May will vote for Leaddsom, I reckon, as she is a Leaver and May is a Remainer.

Britain will emerge from Brexit with a “better, brighter future”, Theresa May pledges today as she warns that the country faces “tough times” while it negotiates to leave the European Union.

In her first interview since she and Andrea Leadsom were named as the final two candidates vying to become the next Prime Minister, Mrs May tells the Telegraph: "Politics can do with some bloody difficult women.”

She also appeals to people not to consider her as a "remainer" after she campaigned to keep Britain in the EU, saying that she is "very clear that Brexit means Brexit".

Both Nigel Farage, the former Ukip leader, and Arron Banks, the party’s donor, have said they support Mrs Leadsom as next Conservative leader.

Last week she refused to rule out Mr Farage forming part of her Brexit negotiating team. It came as President Barack Obama dismissed claims that the Special Relationship is being put at risk by Brexit as “hyperbole”. He said that Brexit negotiations should not be "protracted".


Theresa May: Britain faces 'tough times' but can enjoy a 'better, brighter future' outside the EU

Theresa May, the Home Secretary, is running to be the 75th UK Prime Minister Credit: Justin Sutcliffe

Philip Johnston
Steven Swinford, Deputy Political Editor
8 July 2016
The Telegraph

Britain will emerge from Brexit with a “better, brighter future”, Theresa May pledges today as she warns that the country faces “tough times” while it negotiates to leave the European Union.

In her first interview since she and Andrea Leadsom were named as the final two candidates vying to become the next Prime Minister, Mrs May tells the Telegraph: "Politics can do with some bloody difficult women.”

The Home Secretary says that a female Prime Minister will bring "honesty" and a greater focus on "delivery" in Downing Street, as she suggests that men tend to treat politics as a “game”.

She also appeals to people not to consider her as a "remainer" after she campaigned to keep Britain in the EU, saying that she is "very clear that Brexit means Brexit".

She insists that she is not the "new Margaret Thatcher", describing the former Prime Minister as "absolutely unique". "People love to draw parallels but I just get on with the job and that is my philosophy," she says.

Mrs May, the longest-serving Home Secretary in a century, topped the second round poll of MPs with the support of 199 out of 330 Tory MPs.

The decision on who will lead the country out of the EU and through negotiations with Brussels now rests with the party's 150,000 rank-and-file members of the Conservative Party.

Mrs May adopts a more cautious tone than her rival about leaving the European Union, admitting that "difficult times" lie ahead despite the fact she is "optimistic" for the future.

Mrs May says: "If I am prime minister we will come out of the European Union and part of that will be control of free movement. But alongside that it's important to show how we can come through what will be I think some difficult times with a better, brighter future. "It is very important that people see there is at bright future and we can re-engage that entrepreneurial spirit of the trading nation for which the UK has always been known - that dynamic, creative spirit."

She urges the party to drop the terms "Brexiteers and Remainers", echoing the suggestion by Lord Hague last week that "we are all leavers now".

She says: "It's very important that we unite as a party and as a country. I am very clear that Brexit means Brexit.

"But I don't think we should see people as Brexiteers and Remainers now. We have a job to do in making the best deal we can in coming out of the EU and I am very clear that I will deliver Brexit."

She says that Britain must not be "totally consumed" by Brexit and pledges to deliver on David Cameron's election manifesto by making a decision on Heathrow and pushing ahead with HS2. Her approach contrasts with that of Mrs Leadsom, who has questioned the need for the HS2 railway line and criticised gay marriage as part of an appeal to the Tory heartlands.

Mrs May says: "We have got to do Brexit well but also address all the other issues that matter to people and ensure that Britain is a country that works for everyone and not just a privileged few."

She also embraces Ken Clarke's description of her last week as a "bloody difficult woman": "We [women] just get stuck in. Politics isn’t a game, the decisions we make affect people’s lives and that is something we must all keep to the forefront of our minds.

“Women often focus more on delivery - what is the outcome going to be rather than what are the interactions people have in order to get there.

“I also think that right now people are looking for an honesty in politics. I think we could go through some tough times and we need to be honest with people about that."

She admits that she likes to keep her "personal life personal" but says that she and her husband Philip "dealt with" the fact they couldn't have children and "moved on".

" I hope nobody would think that mattered," she says. "I can still empathise, understand people and care about fairness and opportunity.”

Mrs May today challenges Mrs Leadsm to sign a five-point “pledge card” as she calls for a “clean campaign”. It includes a pledge not to “co-operate in any way with other political parties”, incluing their donors or members.

Both Nigel Farage, the former Ukip leader, and Arron Banks, the party’s donor, have said they support Mrs Leadsom as next Conservative leader.

Last week she refused to rule out Mr Farage forming part of her Brexit negotiating team. It came as President Barack Obama dismissed claims that the Special Relationship is being put at risk by Brexit as “hyperbole”. He said that Brexit negotiations should not be "protracted".



Theresa May: Britain faces 'tough times' but can enjoy a 'better, brighter future' outside the EU

 

[Blackleaf]

Britain may not have to wait until September to get its new Prime Minister. Theresa May could be crowned imminently, with her only remaining rival appearing to be dropping out of the race.

Leadsom to 'quit Tory leadership bid'

BBC News
11 July 2016

Andrea Leadsom is expected to pull out of the two-way contest to become the next Conservative Party leader and UK prime minister, the BBC understands.

A source close to the energy minister said "the abuse has been too great".

Mrs Leadsom was up against Home Secretary Theresa May in the race to succeed David Cameron as prime minister.

She apologised to Mrs May on Monday after suggesting being a mother made her a better candidate for the job.

Andrea Leadsom to 'quit Conservative leadership bid' - BBC News

So the "MSM" has successfully managed to smear the only remaining Brexiteer, Andrea Leadsom, in the race to be PM by deliberately taking her words about motherhood out of context and have therefore handed the keys to No10 to Theresa May, who was on the Remain camp.

Well done, media....

BREAKING NEWS: Andrea Leadsom WITHDRAWS from the Tory leadership race in the wake of motherhood row - handing the keys to Downing Street to her rival Theresa May



The move looks certain to hand the keys to No 10 to Theresa May as the only remaining candidate in the Tory leadership contest after Michael Gove was eliminated last week by MPs. Downing Street sources told MailOnline Mrs May could be installed as the new prime minister 'in the next couple of days' if the Conservative Party decides she is now the only candidate. Announcing her sensational withdrawal from the race, Mrs Leadsom today said: 'We need a new Prime Minister in place as soon as possible. Theresa May carried over 60 per cent support in the parliamentary party. She is ideally placed to implement Brexit on the best possible terms.' Mrs Leadsom said this made it clear she did not have enough support among Tory MPs and added: 'I wish Theresa May the very greatest success.' Mrs Leadsom sparked outrage when she told The Times she had a bigger stake in the future of Britain because she was worried about her children's future. But last night she said she had apologised to Mrs May, who has not had children. Just a week ago, Mrs Leadsom insisted she was in the contest for the long haul, despite fears over the impact on her family.

 

[Blackleaf]

Theresa May is to become Prime Minister on Wednesday.

And, earlier today, she reassured Leadsomites that "Brexit means Brexit."

 

[Walter]

Theresa May is to become Prime Minister on Wednesday.

And, earlier today, she reassured Leadsomites that "Brexit means Brexit."

Can you tell us what the UK public thinks of her?

 

[Tecumsehsbones]

Can you tell us what the UK public thinks of her?

He can tell you what UK drooling imbeciles think of her.

 

[Blackleaf]

Can you tell us what the UK public thinks of her?

No. There have been no opinion polls.

What is odd, though, is that nobody voted for her apart from some MPs.

We've had 22 PMs since 1900 and 13 of them came to power without an election. However, all, or most, of them came to power after being elected as the leader of the ruling party by the party's MPs and members. That is how May should have been elected, but wasn't as her only remaining rival has today dropped out. So May got enough MP votes to make it into the final two but, unusually, has not had to face the final round of voting where Tory members vote for their preferred candidate.

She has become PM by default due to Leadsom dropping out of the race to Number 10.

Yet all that likely doesn't matter anyway. With the mess the Labour Party are in, with most of it trying to get rid of its leader, Comrade Corbyn, if there was a general election anytime soon Mrs May would win it in a landslide.