For unity, Leadsom must withdraw

To cap off what is a stellar rise in politics — all within a space of a few months — Andrea Leadsom, the junior Energy Minister, is now a whisker away from being the next British Prime Minister.

And good on her — but at such a crucial time for the UK and the world, an inexperienced Minister who has not served in Cabinet before, let alone lead it, cannot become the next Prime Minister.

Perhaps if the Conservatives were in Opposition, Leadsom would have been an appropriate choice.

But this isn’t a vote for Opposition Leader, this is the vote for Prime Minister — the main person who will negotiate the deal with Jean-Claude Juncker, the one who will stand up to Putin’s aggression and make the tough and hard decisions.

And in Britain, they are also seeing the consequences of a leader attaining the top job of their party without the full backing of the party’s parliamentary members.

Let there be no doubt: Leadsom is Labour’s Jeremy Corbyn.

In the final vote among MP’s, Theresa May secured the support of 199 of her fellow Conservative parliamentary colleagues — more than 60% of the parliamentary party, including supporters from the Remain and Leave camps.

It is clear that MP’s are lining up behind May as the unifier candidate. When leading Leave campaigners including Dr Liam Fox, Chris Grayling and Priti Patel support May over Leadsom — it demonstrates that many see May as the single, sole choice towards unifying the Conservative Party and the nation.

So I urge Leadsom to stand down and withdraw from the race.

The stakes could not be higher — Britain needs swift, certain leadership. Certainty of leadership is its single greatest asset in an uncertain world and it cannot afford to trade it away.

This isn’t a vote for Opposition Leader, or who can dress the nicest. This is a vote which will determine Britain’s future. Get it wrong and the Conservatives will go down the Corbyn path, a path of instability and rebellion — at the same time with the need to govern the nation.

It just isn’t worth it.

Leadsom should stand down and withdraw for the sake of the Conservatives and Britain’s future.