Government minister casts doubt on Theresa May's plan to lead the Conservatives into next election
3 min read
A Government minister has failed to give his backing to Theresa May leading the Conservatives into the next election.
When asked whether Mrs May would be the party's ideal candidate for the top job at that time, newly appointed International Trade Minister Greg Hands suggested it was too early to call.
“Well, we'll have to see. A lot can happen in five years, and we’ll see what the situation is in 2022,” he told The Herald.
Mrs May stunned Westminster last week by declaring she is "not a quitter" and that she wants to lead the Tories into the next election, which is due in 2022.
Speaking on a visit to Japan, she said: "There’s been an awful lot of speculation which has no basis in it whatsoever. I’m in this for the long term.”
But Mr Hands cast doubt on Mrs May’s comments when he would only say she was the right person to lead the party and country "at the moment".
“The optimum person to lead my party into the next general election? Well I’m expecting it to be a five-year parliament, and five years is a long time in politics.
"The Prime Minister is doing a very good job. A lot can happen in five years, and we’ll see what the situation is in 2022. But at the moment I’ve got complete confidence in the Prime Minister.”
He added: "I think she’s doing a very good job, a very effective job. There’s a lot to be getting on with at the moment. Let’s deal with Brexit. We’ve got a number of other domestic challenges. There’s a lot on the in-tray, and we should be focusing on the next year or two, not focusing on five years’ time.”
“After Brexit, well let’s see. I think if we get the right sort of deal that we want to get, that comprehensive free trade agreement with the European Union, get a good deal whereby defence, security, counter-terrorism cooperation is increasing, continuing then it’ll be all to play for.
When asked if all “would be to play for” included the leadership, he repeated: “Well, you know, again we’ll have to see. It’ll be five years to the next general election. If you think back five years, if you think backwards five years in time, think 2012, the difference between politics in 2012 and 2017, five years is a long time.”
Mr Hands comments come after Brexit Secretary David Davis also failed to explicitly endorse Mrs May's ambitions to stay on for the long-term.
Asked on the BBC's Andrew Marr Show whether his "heart soared" when he heard her claims, he said: "She's a great Prime Minister, I think. I've served her the last 12 months. I have never been anything less than impressed in the way she runs the country - that's what matters to the people. Not the politics, running the country, and she does a good job."
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