MPs make many decisions, but one of the most unusual is choosing the next Prime Minister. By far the majority of times, leaders of political parties are chosen in opposition, when they are given time to bed down in their new role and to learn the skills they will need if they ever get into No 10. This time, the person appointed PM on September the 9th will write the next day to the captains of our nuclear submarines, instructing them what to do in the event of a catastrophic nuclear attack. There is no time to learn on the job, no time for settling down, no opportunity to learn from mistakes off-stage.
We have a fascinating bunch of candidates. I am supporting Theresa May because of her experience, her authority, her track record in the Home Office and her work ethic. But she is also someone who has a strong sense of social justice and equalities. She is a huge supporter of an organisation I co-chair that seeks to encourage more women into politics, and she has has been a frequent visitor to Wyre Forest.
But to concentrate on Theresa would be to miss some of the skills and arguments being put forward by other candidates. Stephen Crabb, who is running on a joint ticket with Bromsgrove MP Sajid Javid is someone who is passionate about people’s life chances. He was raised by a single mother and has travelled a journey in life that has come far farther than any of us. He is someone who proves what one nation Conservatism means and his contribution is incredibly important to the wider debate. I suspect he may be an early fall in the race that is the Conservative leadership, but I think that he should stay as Work and Pensions secretary to help develop his thoughts and ideas.
Andrea Leadsom is a good friend and I have worked with her extensively on the Treasury Committee, examining bank account portability and assisting challenger banks and, for the last four or five years, on European reform with the Fresh Start Project. We worked very closely on our relationship with the EU but, interestingly, came to completely different conclusions about our membership.
We will know who will make the final two by Tuesday next week, and then it goes to the Conservative selectorate. Who we choose will be the prime minister until at least 2020, so it is not a decision taken lightly.