It looks like we have a new Prime Minister
By Christina
@chrisandmark (606)
United Kingdom
July 11, 2016 8:44am CST
Ever since the EU referendum a couple of weeks ago the political situation here in England has been pretty tense. The most obvious sign of change came when our Prime Minister, David Cameron, resigned in pique after the referendum result didn't go his way - so despite the fact the other political parties are having issues, the main thing has been getting a new Prime Minister installed so we can start getting the Brexit show on the road.
Anyway, as of this morning there were two candidates in the running to become Conservative leader/Prime Minister - both women, which is fantastic, and both committed to fulfilling the wishes of the majority and starting the process of us leaving the EU. At lunchtime, however, Andrea Leadsom (one of the candidates) quit the race so although it hasn't been officially confirmed it looks like Home Secretary Theresa May is going to be our new Prime Minister.
She looks uncannily like our only other female Prime Minister, time will tell if that's as bad an omen as I suspect.
There have already been calls for an early general election and I do think that would be the fairest option, Theresa May looks to be a very confident, serious and capable politician but the truth is she doesn't have a mandate and has only won today thanks to her opponent dropping out - I suppose we'll have to see, but I'm glad to hear her say she won't backtrack on Brexit even though she was on the Remain side during the campaign.
Photo credit - Pixabay
7 people like this
7 responses
@WorDazza (15830)
• Manchester, England
11 Jul 16
The only problem I would have with a snap general election is that all of the major parties would campaign on a 'remain in the EU' ticket and, whichever one was elected, would claim they therefore had a mandate NOT to invoke Article 50 and hence keep us in the failing political and economic experiment err... sorry, I mean the EU.
1 person likes this
@egdcltd (12059)
•
11 Jul 16
Given that Labour is in a bit of a mess at the moment, now would be a really bad (or at least really unfair) time to have an election. Plus, Gordon Brown was PM for just short of three years without an election, so simply a leadership change isn't really justification for having one.
1 person likes this
@egdcltd (12059)
•
13 Jul 16
@chrisandmark Plus I really don't think we need any more uncertainty at the moment.
@chrisandmark (606)
• United Kingdom
13 Jul 16
@egdcltd - you're right, it actually seems pointless to have an election as with the Tories being the only party to actually have their act together I don't suppose we'd see a change in government
1 person likes this
@veganbliss (3895)
• Adelaide, Australia
14 Jul 16
Whatever happened to George Osborne? I heard he was considered "next in line" for quite some time. They just made Boris Johnson Foreign Minister & in charge of MI5/6! Clearly they don't want him in the country anymore!
Regardless of the new PM's speech, I'm worried she'll turn into another Maggie T.
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@ricki_911 (21625)
• Toronto, Ontario
11 Jul 16
Hopefully it turns out all for the best.
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@garymarsh6 (23405)
• United Kingdom
11 Jul 16
I must admit that I think Theresa May will make a fairly good Prime minister. She has been around for quite some time unlike the others that put themselves forward or the others that did a bit of back stabbing. Well she is our primeminister now it is confirmed and good luck to her. I just hope she stays firm on her convictions to take us out of the EU and not give in to the whiners who have sulked and had temper tantrums since.
As for another election it is not necessary at the moment with the state of one party and the other pretty much no hopers.
1 person likes this
@chrisandmark (606)
• United Kingdom
13 Jul 16
@garymarsh6 - I agree with you, providing she's honest and does as she's promised I think she could be a good PM. i like that she has the experience that comes with age as well as parliamentary experience, I'm resigned to having a Tory government for a fair while now Labour are squabbling and I'd rather see Theresa May than any of the other Tories who have paraded themselves recently
1 person likes this
@Mike197602 (15505)
• United Kingdom
11 Jul 16
I wanted her to win.
The other woman didn't have as much experience so I'm glad she dropped out.
I think we'll have an election within 18months.
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@chrisandmark (606)
• United Kingdom
13 Jul 16
Yes @Mike197602 I think she's the best person for the job too
1 person likes this
@Mike197602 (15505)
• United Kingdom
13 Jul 16
@chrisandmark doesn't look like I was right about the election as she's said a few times not until 2020.
Also I liked her first speech.
@Hanyouyomi (2187)
• Dallas, Texas
19 Jul 16
Honestly I'mma see how this turns out before I give any judgement...