David Cameron’s ‘gaffe’ will force him out, claim Tory MPs

Criticised: David Cameron (Picture: Rui Vieira/PA Wire)

Joe Murphy @JoeMurphyLondon|Political Editor

24 March 2015

Tory MPs today predicted a leadership contest to replace David Cameron could come as early as 2019 or even 2018 after the Prime Minister amazed Westminster by ruling out a third term in office.

Several senior Conservatives said privately that he had made a “gaffe” by putting a sell-by date on his premiership and some thought it would hasten his eventual exit.

Boris Johnson, one of three senior Tories named as potential successors by Mr Cameron, praised him for being “rather humble and rather straightforward and telling it like it is”.

And Mr Cameron’s allies in Cabinet rallied round to praise his candour and dismiss speculation that he risked becoming a lame duck as his likely retirement date comes closer.

The unexpected drama came after the Prime Minister spoke with unusual openness about his future during a BBC interview at his Oxfordshire home.

He categorically ruled out standing for a third term and added that it would be “it will be time for new leadership” if he served a full second term in office.

He joked: “Terms are like Shredded Wheat — two are wonderful but three might just be too many.”

Boris Johnson and Theresa May are among those shortlisted to succeed Cameron

Mr Johnson, one of three potential successors named by Mr Cameron, alongside Theresa May and George Osborne, played down the significance of the answer.

“I think what David Cameron is saying is entirely banal and obvious,” he said.

The Mayor denied Labour claims that it smacked of arrogance to speculate about a third term before voters had even given a verdict on Mr Cameron’s first term.

He told LBC: “He was asked a question about a third term, he is fighting flat out — as we all are — to win a second term. That is absolutely vital. So to say he is arrogant or presumptuous to rule out a third term seems to be totally bizarre.”

Defence Secretary Michael Fallon also played down Mr Cameron’s remarks. “He is not going to go on and on. Of course not,” he said.

“I think implicitly everybody knows that there is a shelf life to any politician, nobody’s absolutely indispensable.”

Tory MP Peter Bone called it the “non-story of the year” and said voters would be refreshed by Mr Cameron’s honesty.

But a senior backbencher said: “It was a gaffe. It won’t do him any harm now, but it confirms my expectation that he will announce his departure soon after the EU referendum in 2017.”

Several MPs pointed out that Mr Cameron once said Tony Blair’s decision to rule out a full third term was “an absolute killer” for his authority while still prime minister.

Alastair Campbell, who was Mr Blair’s director of communications, said it was a “potential disaster” for the Tories.

“He has created a massive distraction,” he told Newsnight.

“I think he has opened up something that he will find very difficult now to close.”

David Cameron’s ‘gaffe’ will force him out, claim Tory MPs

Read More