Sajid Javid launches leadership bid to be next prime minister
The first ethnic minority home secretary uses his party's drubbing in the EU elections to declare he wants to "deliver Brexit".
Tuesday 28 May 2019 01:15, UK
Sajid Javid has become the ninth Tory MP to throw his hat into the ring to become prime minister.
The home secretary used his party's massive defeat in the European elections to declare he was the person to "restore trust" in politics.
The 49-year-old, who backed Remain in the referendum but has since positioned himself as a firm Leaver, said: "First and foremost, we must deliver Brexit."
He became the first ethnic minority home secretary when he was appointed in April 2018, following the departure of Amber Rudd from the role over the Windrush scandal.
The son of a Pakistani bus driver from Rochdale, Mr Javid was a managing director at Deutsche Bank before being elected to parliament.
Announcing his candidacy on Twitter, Mr Javid said: "As last night's result made all too clear, we must get on and deliver Brexit to ensure there is renewed trust in our democracy."
He billed himself as a leader for people "who is always straight fighting for their interests".
The Bromsgrove MP did not say in his pre-recorded video if he would take Britain out of the EU on 31 October with or without a deal.
But Lib Dem former cabinet minister Sir Ed Davey accused Mr Javid of "scaremongering about refugees, eroding civil liberties and undermining human rights".
"Mr Javid's record as home secretary should disqualify him," he said.
"We've just seen what happens when a terrible home secretary becomes a disastrous prime minister.
"We don't need a repeat."
Mr Javid joins Michael Gove, Esther McVey, Boris Johnson, Andrea Leadsom, Dominic Raab, Jeremy Hunt, Rory Stewart and Matt Hancock in the race to replace Theresa May.
She used an emotional address to announce plans to resign as Conservative leader on 7 June, after US President Donald Trump's state visit and the Peterborough by-election.