Conservative Party votes for final pair in Brexit PM race

July 7, 2016 - 15:08 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net - Conservative lawmakers were choosing the final two candidates on Thursday, July 7 to replace David Cameron as Britain's next prime minister -- and lead the country out of the European Union, AFP reports.

Interior minister Theresa May is the frontrunner, but two Brexit campaigners are battling to be her opponent in the final contest, which will be decided by 150,000 Conservative Party members.

The winner, due to be announced on September 9, will have the task of extricating Britain from its 43-year membership of the EU following the seismic vote in last month's referendum to leave the bloc.

Cameron quit as the results came through, plunging Britain's future into uncertainty.

Sterling has tumbled against the dollar and the Bank of England warned this week that the feared risks to financial stability were starting to materialise.

Conservative MPs are voting through the day, with a decision expected around 1530 GMT, and a flurry of campaigning in the final hours sparked accusations of dirty tricks.

Nick Boles, a lawmaker who backs justice minister Michael Gove for leader, had to apologise after sending a text to supporters of May asking them to vote tactically to back his candidate to keep out their rival, Andrea Leadsom.

"Michael doesn't mind spending two months taking a good thrashing from Theresa if that is what it takes but in the party's interest and the national interest, surely we must all work together to stop AL?" he wrote.

In a penitent tweet, Boles said his candidate was not aware of his manoeuvring -- but it will not help Gove's image, after he sensationally withdrew support from leadership frontrunner Boris Johnson to stand himself.

Johnson, the former London mayor and Brexit campaigner who was long tipped to succeed Cameron, then pulled out.

With EU leaders pushing Britain to speed up the race and begin Brexit negotiations, a group of about 30 MPs have signed a letter calling for a new leader to be installed by the end of the month.