Contradictions in policies of 2 candidates for British Prime Minister

(Baonghean.vn)- British Home Secretary Theresa May and pro-Brexit MP and Energy Minister Andrea Leadsom will join the two-horse race to become Prime Minister David Cameron's successor.

Both are on opposite sides of the “battlefield”, with one side supporting and the other opposing Britain remaining in the EU. However, both female politicians have pledged to follow the will of the British people and promote the process of Britain leaving this 60-year-old union.

The next British Prime Minister will be responsible for triggering Article 50, marking the two-year negotiation process between the UK and the EU.

Based on what Mrs. May and Mrs. Leadsom have said, here are the key policy differences between the two candidates:

Two candidates are in a two-horse race to become the second female Prime Minister to succeed Mr. Cameron. Photo: Telegraph.

Brexit implementation progress

Brexit will not change, according to Theresa May, who supports the Remain camp. However, May said that triggering Article 50 will only be done once the UK's negotiating strategy is approved and clear. This means that Article 50 will not be triggered until next year at the earliest.

Meanwhile, in contrast to Mrs. May's above view, candidate Leadsom wants to activate Article 50 and negotiations to be implemented "as quickly as possible", but did not give a specific schedule.

Immigration issues

May said voters had sent a clear message that freedom of movement would not be preserved as it was, meaning immigration controls would have to be included in any deal to access the EU single market. She also warned that immigration could rise before Britain formally leaves the bloc.

Meanwhile, Leadsom's rival made a tougher pledge, declaring that "freedom of movement will end, and the British Parliament will have to decide how many immigrants are allowed into the UK each year."

EU citizens in the UK

Mrs May refused to guarantee that EU citizens living and working in the UK would be allowed to stay after Britain officially leaves the EU.

Ms Leadsom criticised candidate May for using the EU citizenship issue as a "bargaining chip", and she pledged that EU citizens would continue to live in the UK indefinitely.

Social issues

Mrs May voted in favour of same-sex marriage in 2013, while Mrs Leadsom abstained. This week, Mrs Leadsom said she favoured “traditional marriage between a man and a woman”.

Comparison with "Iron Lady" Thatcher

Becoming the second female British Prime Minister after the late Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, both candidates will certainly be compared to the "Iron Lady".

Ms Leadsom built her career in finance, following Mrs Thatcher’s free-market reforms, and has called the late Prime Minister a “political heroine”. Ms Leadsom praised the “Iron Lady” as kind and gentle, and as a leader she was tough and steadfast.

Mrs May has avoided comparisons with Mrs Thatcher, but Conservative colleagues say the two women have similar styles.

A female politician said, “Theresa is an extremely tough woman, like the late Prime Minister Thatcher.”

Lan Ha

(According to AFP)