Katy Balls Katy Balls

How would Andrea Leadsom fare in another Tory leadership contest?

Andrea Leadsom has become the latest Cabinet minister to suggest that they would like to succeed Theresa May as Prime Minister. After DfID Secretary Rory Stewart declared his own ambition for the top job, Leadsom used an appearance on Good Morning Britain this morning to reveal her interest. The Leader of the House of Commons says she is ‘seriously considering’ entering the race after her failed attempt the last time around:

‘I’ve supported her for the last three years to get Brexit over the line. She has said she’s going, so yes I am seriously considering standing.’

In the 2016 leadership contest, Leadsom made it into the final two but later dropped out (following a row about comments she had made on motherhood) to pave the way for Theresa May to become Prime Minister. Since then, there has been a growing view within the Tory party that the fast speed approach to selecting a leader was a mistake – had there been a chance for a full contest Theresa May’s weaknesses as a leader would have been uncovered sooner rather than later.

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