Candidates for Leadership of the Conservative Party and Prime Ministership of Britain

Five members of the Conservative Party in Britain announced their candidacy for the leadership of the party and the future premiership of the country on Thursday, July 1. Following last week's referendum that resulted in a vote for Britain's exit from the European Union, David Cameron announced he would resign from the premiership. After voting among parliamentary members and ordinary members of the Conservative Party, the new leader of the party is set to be introduced on September 9. The French news agency looks at the five candidates competing for the position of Prime Minister of Britain. Mrs. Theresa May is recognized as a capable and hardworking politician and manager who held one of the difficult cabinet positions, the Home Office, during David Cameron's six years as Prime Minister. Although this 59-year-old politician supported remaining in the EU, she is not a fervent supporter of the European Union. After Boris Johnson, the former Mayor of London and one of the prominent leaders of the Brexit movement, announced he would not participate in this race, many believe Mrs. May's chances of securing the Conservative Party leadership are greater than others. She has stated that she will lead Britain 'in a time of political and economic uncertainties.' Mrs. May opposes holding early general elections before the scheduled date of 2020 and conducting another referendum on Britain's future. She has also said that despite pressure from EU leaders to expedite the exit process, she will not implement Article 50, the regulations for leaving the EU, this year. Michael Gove, the 48-year-old Justice Minister, is considered one of the intellectual leaders of the Conservative Party. He played a very important and active role in the recent referendum campaign in favor of leaving the EU, but it is said that he does not have close ties with ordinary members and supporters of the Conservative Party. Mr. Gove announced his candidacy with a surprising attack on Boris Johnson, stating that this controversial politician 'cannot lead Britain in the difficult conditions ahead.' His decision to oppose David Cameron in the recent referendum was very personal. They have been friends and political colleagues for years, and Mr. Gove is even the godfather of one of David Cameron's children. Stephen Crabb, the Minister of Work and Pensions, is a younger and less known politician, but due to his upbringing in a working-class and ordinary family, some consider him suitable for leading a party that is often accused of elitism and being distant from ordinary voters. Mr. Crabb, 43, grew up in public housing and by a single mother, and is a devout Christian. He is a pleasant and conciliatory person but is far from reaching the leadership of the party and the premiership. He defended remaining in the EU and announced his candidacy for party leadership alongside Sajid Javid, the Minister of Trade and son of a Pakistani bus driver, who would presumably become the Minister of Finance if Mr. Crabb wins. Liam Fox is from the right-wing faction of the Conservative Party and is a staunch opponent of the EU. He was the Minister of Defense at the beginning of David Cameron's premiership but had to resign in 2011 after his relationships with friends in defense industry lobbies were exposed. Liam Fox lost to David Cameron in the 2005 Conservative Party leadership contest and is unlikely to have much chance this time either. However, he has many supporters among sections of the Conservative Party. Andrea Leadsom, who previously worked in managing financial institutions and banks, is one of the leaders of the campaign for Britain's exit from the EU. She first became a member of Parliament in 2010 and worked in the Treasury. In 2015, she was appointed as one of the directors general of the Department of Energy. On Thursday, Ms. Leadsom announced her candidacy on Twitter, writing under the hashtag 'Fresh Start': 'We must make the most of the opportunities Brexit has provided.'