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

Mother Slits 8 Months Pregnant Daughter's Throat In Pakistan

Mother Slits 8 Months Pregnant Daughter's Throat In Pakistan
A mother slit open the throat of her 22-year-old pregnant daughter in Pakistan's Punjab province, the latest in a series of gruesome "dishonour killing" that have sparked national outrage.

Mother Slits 8 Months Pregnant Daughter's Throat In Pakistan

Indian Envoy Navtej Sarna Walks Out After Spotting Mallya At London Book Launch

Indian Envoy Navtej Sarna Walks Out After Spotting Mallya At London Book Launch
Government clarified that the envoy left the event immediately after seeing the fugitive liquor baron among the audience.

Indian Envoy Navtej Sarna Walks Out After Spotting Mallya At London Book Launch

Pakistan Foreign Office In 'Condolence' Message Blooper For Ailing Philanthropist Abdul Sattar Edhi

Pakistan Foreign Office In 'Condolence' Message Blooper For Ailing Philanthropist Abdul Sattar Edhi
“We are withdrawing the press release which was based on wrong information passed to this office. Inconvenience is regretted,” said the foreign office in a statement.

Pakistan Foreign Office In 'Condolence' Message Blooper For Ailing Philanthropist Abdul Sattar Edhi

World's 'Most Diverse' Yoga Day Celebrations To Be Held Over Two Days At UN

World's 'Most Diverse' Yoga Day Celebrations To Be Held Over Two Days At UN
On Yoga Day June 21, "Sadhguru" Jaggi Vasudev will lead the celebrations at the circle in front of the glass-fronted UN headquarters tower by holding a session of simple yoga practice and yogic chants

World's 'Most Diverse' Yoga Day Celebrations To Be Held Over Two Days At UN

Act on Terror Havens, US Tells Pak In Blunt Message; Stops $300 Million Aid

Act on Terror Havens, US Tells Pak In Blunt Message; Stops $300 Million Aid
The continued existence of terrorist safe havens in Pakistan and its inability to take action against them affect the US-Pakistan bilateral ties, including security assistance, the Pentagon has said.

Act on Terror Havens, US Tells Pak In Blunt Message; Stops $300 Million Aid

China Offers Cloud-Seeding Technology For Drought-Hit Marathwada

China Offers Cloud-Seeding Technology For Drought-Hit Marathwada
China has over the years used the cloud seeding rockets tipped with silver iodide to cause precipitation. But it requires clouds to cause precipitation.

China Offers Cloud-Seeding Technology For Drought-Hit Marathwada