Close X
Monday, November 25, 2024
ADVT 
International

Indian-Origin Minister Priti Patel Backs Theresa May For British Prime Minister

IANS, 08 Jul, 2016 11:31 AM
  • Indian-Origin Minister Priti Patel Backs Theresa May For British Prime Minister
UK's Indian-origin minister Priti Patel, who had campaigned strongly for Britain leaving the EU, today announced her support for Home Secretary Theresa May to replace David Cameron as the prime minister, saying she was the right person to execute the "will of the British people."
 
Patel's backing came as May emerged as the clear front-runner in the race to take over from Cameron, with over half of the Conservative party's 330 MPs voting in her favour in the first round of voting earlier this week.
 
Patel, who attends Cabinet in her capacity as UK's employment minister, said that May was the right person to implement the "will of the British people" while comparing her to Britain's first woman prime minister Margaret Thatcher.
 
"Theresa May is the only candidate best placed to deliver and there is no other candidate who comes anywhere close to her experience, or record of strong leadership. She shares the steely determination I always admired in Margaret Thatcher, and she has the experience and trust needed to succeed for this great nation of ours," said Patel, who also serves as outgoing premier Cameron's Indian Diaspora Champion.
 
The second round of voting takes place today to narrow down the race between two candidates, which could throw up an all-woman contest between May and energy minister Andrea Leadsom -- unless justice minister Michael Gove manages to make a come-back from third place.
 
 
The third and final round of voting will take place next week and the winner would be announced on September 9. The winner will have the task of negotiating Britain's exit from its 43-year membership of the 28-member EU.
 
"I have always believed that Britain would be stronger, more prosperous and secure outside of the EU. I stayed true to what I have always believed in with principle and conviction. From all discussions with Theresa on the future of our country, I believe that her experience in tough negotiations, her determination to get the best deal for the UK, and her commitment to reduce immigration - in a fair way - make her the obvious choice," Patel said.
 
Admitting the divisions caused by Brexit, the 44-year-old Conservative party MP for Witham called on the party to unite under May's leadership.
 
"We must end the tribalism and divisions seen in the Referendum between Leave and Remain and focus on defining our place in the world and putting core Conservative principles and values into action," she said.
 
 
The bookmakers' odds were heavily in favour of May taking over from Cameron, with Leadsom in second place and Gove an unlikely contender.
 
The leadership contest was triggered following Britain's 52-48 per cent vote in favour of leaving the EU in a referendum on June 23, after which Cameron announced he would be stepping down for a new PM to lead the country's exit negotiations from the economic bloc forward.

MORE International ARTICLES

Disused Gurdwara Vandalised By Teenagers In UK: Report

Disused Gurdwara Vandalised By Teenagers In UK: Report
A Kent Police spokesperson said: "Kent Police was called at 12.07am on Thursday, 23 June to a report of criminal damage at a derelict property in Clarence Place, Gravesend."

Disused Gurdwara Vandalised By Teenagers In UK: Report

Indian-American Elected Delegate To GOP Convention

Indian-American Elected Delegate To GOP Convention
An Indian-American has been elected as a Republican delegate for a record fourth consecutive term to the party's July convention in Cleveland which would formally nominate real-estate tycoon Donald Trump as its presidential candidate.

Indian-American Elected Delegate To GOP Convention

Elderly Indian-American Face 30-Year Jail In Multi-Million Dollar Fraud

Elderly Indian-American Face 30-Year Jail In Multi-Million Dollar Fraud
Pethinaidu Veluchamy, 70 and his 65-year-old wife Parameswari Veluchamy, who owned First Mutual Bancorp in Illinois, intentionally hid cash and assets from creditors after defaulting on USD 40 million in personal and corporate loans

Elderly Indian-American Face 30-Year Jail In Multi-Million Dollar Fraud

India's NSG Dream Hits The Great Wall Of China

India's NSG Dream Hits The Great Wall Of China
India's wait for a coveted Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) membership continues even after eight years of lobbying, as China foiled its latest bid in Seoul on the grounds that New Delhi has not signed the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).

India's NSG Dream Hits The Great Wall Of China

Scottish Leader: New Independence Referendum 'Highly Likely'

She said she will seek powers to hold a second vote because of her desire to keep Scotland in the European bloc.

Scottish Leader: New Independence Referendum 'Highly Likely'

CNN hires fired Trump campaign manager Corey Lewandowski

Lewandowski made his first appearance on Erin Burnett's "Outfront" program Thursday evening.

CNN hires fired Trump campaign manager Corey Lewandowski