Who do you want to win the tory leadership contest?

[Barrington Womble]

She's promising to trigger Art 50 immediately.

She cant can she? I thought it needed an act of Parliament?

[lifetime fan]

She cant can she? I thought it needed an act of Parliament?

There's some doubt about that but the legal bods seem to be agreed the PM can do it without a vote in parliament.

[Barrington Womble]

There's some doubt about that but the legal bods seem to be agreed the PM can do it without a vote in parliament.

Fucking hell, I didn't think that was possible. I knew there was a court case going on, but assumed that was really about something bigger later on.

[RedKnight]

Leadsom is absolutely frightening piece of work. At first I thought she'd been put in it just so May could win against someone invaluable. Now I'm worried all the middle England, Daily Mail readers see her as a cipher and we'll end up with the most inexperience prime minister in centuries. I don't care that she's religious but I don't want it impacting on any part of her political life.

[Anubis]

She cant can she? I thought it needed an act of Parliament?

Nobody seems to know for certain. People who want to remain are pushing for an Act of Parliament because the referendum was non-binding. But there appears to be nothing specific requiring one.

[Gnasher]

There are only 140,000 tory members, less than half the amount as when Cameron took over. Average age 68. Most are probably batshit crazy and think Harold Mcmillan is on the voting sheet.

[Jairzinho]

Angela Eagle.

[Kevin D]

May has had to remarkably little to become PM. If she had gone on holiday in March and come back last week, she'd be in more or less the same position. I'm not sure sure if that makes her a great strategist, or just lucky.

[dennis tooth]

Can see leadsome might pull off a shock win.

Hard to tell what the members might come up with. Weirdos.

[Gnasher]

[Gnasher]

Angela Eagle.

She'd win, as long as she sticks to the strategy of keeping every other rival off the ballot paper.

[dickie mint]

Leadsom has threw her hand in.

[cloggypop]

Leadsom has threw her hand in.

She's probably lying.

[kalasoma]

Leadsom will pull out of the race.

Gove is going to be thrown back in the race (but May will win anyway, handing him another punch to the face).

A whisper of UKIPers will demand Leadsom be their new leader.

[Razoray]

Press conference at 12:15. Rumours that she is withdrawing. May next hopefully

[kalasoma]

If Leadsom pulls out:

1 - Theresa May could become prime minister very soon, perhaps even later today.

2 - May could be confirmed as party leader, but with David Cameron staying on for perhaps a few more weeks.

3 - The Conservative party board could decide to allow another candidate to enter. It would almost certainly be Michael Gove, who came third. The board could take the view that members are entitled to a choice between a leave candidate and a remain candidate.

The Guardian Live report ticker thingy.

[kalasoma]

If it is true that Leadsom does bugger off, then that's another champion of the Leavers gone. Is this a coincidence?

[dickie mint]

I hope she vanishes up her own arse never to be seen again the vile piece of shit.

[kalasoma]

Andrea Leadsom is expected to pull out of the two-way contest to become the next Conservative Party leader and UK prime minister, the BBC understands.

A source close to the energy minister said "the abuse has been too great".

Mrs Leadsom was up against Home Secretary Theresa May in the race to succeed David Cameron as prime minister.

She apologised to Mrs May on Monday after suggesting being a mother made her a better candidate for the job.

 

She could have spun this to say that the establishment was to blame, childless women were to blame, immigrants were to blame or better yet, Corbyn is entirely responsible for all of this. Now all she appears is gutless and people were going to vote for her.

[cochyn]

I hope she vanishes up her own arse never to be seen again the vile piece of shit.

 

Theresa, is that you?

[Strontium]

Leadsom would be a disaster for this country, not sure the country could take two in one year. Hopefully this is true.

[dickie mint]

Theresa, is that you?

Hopefully she goes the same way as Leadsom.

[cochyn]

Leadsom would be a disaster for this country, not sure the country could take two in one year. Hopefully this is true.

 

I agree completely. I don't think she was ever going to get in, though. I'm actually thinking this whole race is for a stooge PM who'll take the flak for enacting A50 and pushing on with Brexit.

[kalasoma]

[bigthrusts]

The mother of all U-turns.