Andrea Leadsom confirms Tory leadership bid

Energy Minister Andrea Leadsom has today (30 June) announced her intentions to become the next leader of the Conservative Party, on the same day that Ex-London mayor Boris Johnson surprisingly ruled himself out of the race.


South Northamptonshire MP Leadsom, who was one of the leading campaigners for Brexit during the EU Referendum debate, announced her leadership bid at the eleventh-hour before it became clear that fellow Leave supporter Johnson would not be entering the contest.

Declaring her intentions, Leadsom said: “I’m delighted to say that I’ve put in my papers for Conservative leadership today. And the reason for doing that is because I see a huge opportunity from the result of the referendum.

“The UK can be so much better in the world. The future of our children and grandchildren will be so great. But we have to do now is to all pull together and make that opportunity a reality.”

Post-Brexit concerns

Leadsom’s leadership bid arrives after a week of political turmoil in the wake of Britain’s decision to leave the EU. The vote sparked widespread concern among the environmental groups about the future green policy landscape, but the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) Minister yesterday sought to calm business and investor fears by stating that the UK’s energy policy will not change as a result of Brexit.

Indeed, Leadsom’s ministerial department provided a much-needed confidence boost for the green economy today (30 June) by approving the Fifth Carbon Budget, taking heed of ambitious proposals from MPs to limit the annual emissions to 57% below 1990 levels by the year 2032.

Leadsom has previously defended DECC’s somewhat controversial green policy approach, stating she has become “sick and tired” of the barrage of complaints being fired at the department over punitive cuts to renewable energy subsidies and its continued support of the Hinkley Point C nuclear power plant.

In March, Leadsom told the ECCC that although the Government remains “fully confident” that the Hinkley project will go ahead, contingency plans are in place to protect the UK energy security in the event of sustained postponements.

George Ogleby

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