“The best interests of my career inspired me to stand for the leadership, I believe that in leaving the EU a bright future awaits where all our people can share in a new prosperity, freedom and democracy. I’ve never actually manage to articulate how this could be achieved, but if we can kick out these bloody Poles it would be a start. The referendum result demonstrated a clear desire for change, apart from the 48% who didn’t want change. Sod them. Strong leadership is needed urgently to begin the work of withdrawing from the EU, especially if that leader has had children. (Andrea: leave this last bit out – IDS.)
“A nine week leadership campaign art such a critical moment for our country is highly undesirable – business needs certainty. That wasn’t my view yesterday but as soon as I knew the game was up, I decided to come out with the usual guff about unity. A strong and unified government must move quickly to set out what an independent UK’s framework for business looks like. As that isn’t possible, I’m supporting Theresa May now. It is also essential that current EU workers in the UK and businesses that employ them know where they stand. What I mean by this is that we should make the decision to send them all home as soon as possible. That’s what Brexit was all about.
“The Conservative party was elected only last year with a strong manifesto, albeit with 65% of those who voted not agreeing. We now need a new prime minister in place as soon as possible – i.e. not Cameron – committed to fulfilling that manifesto as well as implementing the clear instruction from the referendum. I know really that with the country now going to hell in a handcart and the economy going down the tubes, fulfilling the manifesto will not be possible because all the money’s gone. I’ll keep banging on about the EU, though, because a) it’s all I care about and b) it’s nothing to do with me anymore. I can just sit and watch alongside Boris, Michael and Nigel.
“Theresa May carries over 60% of support from the parliamentary party, and just so you know that leaving the EU is all I care about, I’ll add that she is ideally placed to implement Brexit on the best possible terms for the British people and she has promised she will do so. I know that doesn’t mean a thing to you, but don’t worry: I don’t understand it either. Whatever deal she gets will be on the best possible terms, even if it’s crap.
“For me personally to have won the support of 84 of my colleagues last Thursday just shows how many idiots there are on the Tory benches. Nevertheless this is less than 25% of the parliamentary party and after careful consideration I do not believe this is sufficient support to win a strong and stable government should I win the leadership election. I mean, no credible party leader could run a stable government or even opposition party. Just ask Jeremy. Oh, wait a minute…
“I have however concluded that the interests of our country are best served by the immediate appointment of a strong and well-supported Prime Minister. As that isn’t me, I am therefore withdrawing from the leadership election and I wish Theresa May the very greatest of success. She’ll bloody need it. I assure her of my full support. Even if she hasn’t got any children like I have.”
