The sudden resignation of Prime Minister David Cameron after EU referendum which resulted in Brexit, has thrown up a succession battle among leading Conservative Party MPs.
The top contenders for the post are Home Secretary Theresa May, Justice Secretary Michael Gove. While other contenders include Energy minister Andrea Leadsom, Work and Pensions Secretary Stephen Crabb and former Cabinet minister Liam Fox.
The former London Mayor Boris Johnson one of the leaders of the Leave campaign has surprisingly pulled out of the race.
The challenge for the next Prime Minister will be how to unite Britain and address the growing fear among the ethnic minorities. Boris Johnson, during the EU referendum campaign, promised illegal migrants of up to 12 years in the UK, amnesty.
He said: “Yes, let us take back control of our borders with a sensible, fair and impartial system. Let me take on this issue absolutely directly because I am proimmigration, my friends. I am the proud descendent of Turkish immigrants. Let me stun you, perhaps, by saying I would go further, I am not only pro-immigration, I’m pro-immigrants, but I am in favour of an amnesty for illegal immigrants who have been here for more than 12 years, unable to contribute to this economy, unable to pay taxes, unable to take proper part in society”
“And I will tell you why: because it is the humane thing to do. It is the economically rational thing to do. And it means taking back control of a system that is at the moment completely out of control.
“And if we take back control of our immigration system with an Australianstyle points-based system, you will be dealing fairly and justly with every part of the world, and you will be neutralising people in this country and across Europe who wish to play politics with immigration and who are opposed to immigrants. And that is the way forward, to neutralise the extremists by taking back control of our immigration system.” A decision by the next cabinet to grant amnesty for migrants who have been in the UK illegally for more than 12 years will go a long way to calm tension and improve community cohesion while adding to the economy through tax payment. Britain has witnessed a spate of racist and xenophobic attacks in the past few weeks. Reports of hate crime have soared by 57% in the wake of the Brexit vote, according to the National Police Chiefs Council. Cards have been handed out outside homes and schools saying “No more Polish vermin”, a Muslim schoolgirl was cornered by a group that shouted “Get out we voted leave” and a video has emerged of a group of teenagers shouting “get back to Africa”.
Prime Minister David Cameron, while addressing the House of Commons on the recent rise of racial abuse after the EU referendum said, extra cash for security measures will be available as part of a fresh mandate to “drive appalling hate crimes out of Britain”. A new action plan on tackling hate crime is underway following reports of an increase in attacks after voters backed Leave during the EU referendum, The Crown Prosecution Service will issue new guidance to prosecutors on racially aggravated crimes according to the Prime Minister.
Mr Cameron said: “These attacks are appalling and they need to stop and it’s right everyone in this House and everyone on all sides of the referendum debate utterly condemn them. That’s not what we do in Britain.
“Let me say I reassured prime ministers of countries, such as Romania, Poland and the Czech Republic, who are concerned about this issue at the meeting we had last night. “So we do monitor these attacks and the Home Secretary gets regular reports.
“But I can tell the House we will be publishing a new action plan on tackling hate crimes shortly to step up our response.
“We want new steps to boost reporting of hate crimes and supporting victims, new CPS guidance to prosecutors on racially aggravated crimes, a new fund for protective security measures at potentially vulnerable institutions and additional
funding to community organisations so they can tackle hate crimes. “Whatever we can do we will do to drive these appalling hate crimes out of our country.”
The new leader will be elected by party members with the result out by 9 September. How the next Conservative administration handles tough negotiations with the EU, especially on the issue of free movement of EU citizens will determine the future prospects for Britain.
