THERESA May stood down as leader of the Tories yesterday, bringing her chaotic reign almost – but not quite – to an end.
She will remain as Prime Minister and interim leader until party members select a new chief, which could take until July 22.
It was an ignominious end to her time in charge, with the Tories massively split on Brexit and utterly rejected by voters.
In the Peterborough by-election on Thursday, the Tories went from a close second to a distant third, replaced by Nigel Farage’s Brexit Party.
Their candidate’s share of the vote dropped by 25%.
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While revolting party members in two constituencies are so unhappy that they’re trying to de-select their own MPs.
Justice Secretary David Gauke and former attorney general Dominic Grieve have both been asked to attend special meetings of their local Conservative Associations.
Gauke faces a no-confidence motion on June 28 by the South West Hertfordshire. Grieve has already lost a no confidence motion.
Despite having little authority and little time left in office, May is reportedly going to attempt to make a series of billion pound policy announcements over the next few weeks.
May’s spokesperson said on Friday: “You heard from the PM recently in setting out that for the remainder of her time in office she will be focused on delivering and building on the domestic agenda that she has put at the heart of her premiership, since she became prime minister.”
But the Prime Minister might find her attempts to eke out a last-minute legacy blocked by Chancellor Philip Hammond.
In April, he told Treasury select committee that there was a spending review coming up in the Autumn and that he did not think “it would be a good idea at all,” to commit to new spending priorities before then.
Nominations for her successor close on Monday, with the first round of voting by MPs taking place on June 13.
Following a hustings involving the remaining candidates on June 17, the second ballot will take place on June 18.
Up to five MPs’ ballots are expected to take place, with the two candidates left standing announced on June 20.
They will then go forward to a ballot of Tory Party members.
Eleven Tory MPs have so far said they will enter the contest.
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