Bexhill and Battle MP backs Theresa May for PM

Five candidates have put themselves forward for the job of Prime Minister following David Cameron’s resignation after Britain voted to leave the European Union (EU).

Mr Merriman said the Mrs May, the current Home Secretary and MP for Maidenhead in Berkshire, was the ‘most qualified’ to become the next Prime Minister.

He said: “In choosing who to support in the Conservative leadership election, I carefully considered who would have the experience, leadership and life skills, respect and gravitas to lead the civil servant teams in negotiations to deliver the best deal for the UK as it leaves the EU as well as delivering the rest of our programme for this term.

“In particular, which of the five candidates would have the skills and experience to face down the EU institutions and EU members and stand firm for our red-lines in negotiations. Having posed these questions, and having met the candidates who I felt handled themselves well during and after the EU referendum campaign, I came to the conclusion Theresa May would be the most qualified to be our next Prime Minister.

“I do not take the view that the next Prime Minister should have been a committed Leaver. The most important aspect to me is that the next Prime Minister is best able to get the powers back to the UK from the EU. We have the mandate to leave, now we need to make sure we have the best person in place to deliver the goods.”

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