LONDON (AP) – Nominations were opening Wednesday to replace Prime Minister David Cameron as leader of the Conservative Party, with the victor getting the challenge – or the poisoned chalice – of negotiating Britain’s exit from the European Union.
Cameron announced his resignation after British voters decided last week, against his advice, that the U.K. should leave the 28-nation bloc.
The first contender to make it official was Work and Pensions Secretary Stephen Crabb, who said he was running because “I don’t see anybody who provides a compelling answer” to the question of how to heal a deeply divided nation.
The 43-year-old Crabb, raised by a single mother in public housing, said he would offer “resilience, optimism, humility, strength.” Although he backed the “remain” side in the referendum, he promised to deliver a “negotiated exit” from the EU.
Crabb is running with Business Secretary Sajid Javid – who would serve as his finance minister – on what has been dubbed a blue-collar ticket. Both men come from working-class backgrounds, in contrast to upper-crust front-runner Boris Johnson, the former mayor of London, and the current prime minister, Cameron.