Theresa May’s resignation means that a new prime minister will enter office by the end of July. But who is best placed to fill that role?
As the governing party with a de facto majority, the Conservatives will get to pick the next prime minister without the need for a general election. From my perspective, two names stand out: Rory Stewart and Sajid Javid.
Rory Stewart is the international development secretary, a Cabinet-level position responsible for presiding over Britain’s large foreign aid budget. A former army officer who once walked across Afghanistan, and a former senior diplomat in Iraq, Stewart is a true British adventurer. But he is no imperialist. Rather, a conservative in the vein of small government, accountability, and social responsibility, Stewart has the brains and the moral purpose to lead. He has the charisma to beat Jeremy Corbyn in an election, and would be a strong American ally.
Then there’s Sajid Javid. The home secretary (think of it as a mix of homeland security secretary and an immigration minister) Javid is an economic conservative with a reputation for results-orientated leadership. Representing a new generation of more diverse conservatives, Javid has the presence to lead.
Of course, there are other talented individuals in the Conservative Party such as Jacob Rees-Mogg. But the Conservatives need someone who can win independent-minded voters, and Rees-Mogg is too much of a social conservative to contest the center ground. He would, however, make an excellent foreign secretary or other Cabinet minister.
The key is that British Conservatives elect a new leader who can manage the country effectively, see Brexit carried through in some form, and then win the next election against Jeremy Corbyn.
