Sajid Javid says he's ready to back a No Deal Brexit – and rules out second referendum or General Election

TORY leader hopeful Sajid Javid has said he is ready to back a No Deal Brexit and has ruled out a second referendum.

The Home Secretary, who has thrown his hat in the ring to be the next Prime Minister, also added he wouldn't hold a general election as he outlined a five point plan.

He outlined his Brexit plan – which also includes working with Ireland to amend the backstop and to leave on October 31.

The 49-year-old referenced Margaret Thatcher in his campaign declaration, as he indicated he would carry out a hard-nosed negotiation with the EU.

One of 12 Tory MPs vying for leadership, he told the Daily Mail: "In the words of a great British prime minister who knew how to get what she wanted from the European Commission: No, no, no.

"The voters have been asked their opinion more than enough times. Never in this country's history have we asked people to go to the polls a second time without implementing their verdict from the first."

Mr Javid announced his candidacy in the wake of the party's disastrous Euro elections result, the worst in its history.

In a video he posted online, the Bromsgrove MP – who's dubbed himself "The Saj" – said: "It's time to rebuild trust, to find unity and to create new opportunities for our country."

The Prime Minister will formally stand down as party leader on June 7 after announcing her resignation on May 24 – but will stay in place while the new PM is being chosen, rather than handing over to an interim chief such as David Lidington.

The leadership contest, overseen by party chairman Brandon Lewis, will take around six weeks.

But Brussels chiefs have warned the timeline won't change and the new leader wouldn't be able to tear up the current Brexit deal and simply start again.

SAJID JAVID'S 5 POINTS TO WIN LEADERSHIP

  1. He will say no to a second referendum, general election or the revoking of Article 50
  2. He will accept a deal will only get through if an amendment is made on the Irish backstop which includes an exit clause or time limit
  3. He will prepare for a No Deal, complete with an emergency budget
  4. He will get a deal through Parliament by October 31, or leave without one
  5. He will build a better relationship with Dublin and cover the cost of new border technology being developed and put in place

Mr Javid, whose father was a Pakistani immigrant and bus driver, called his points an "honest, credible set of proposals that recognises the significant challenges we face".

The 49-year-old said planning for a No Deal would show the country is serious about walking away from the EU.

He added: "This would show the EU we are ready… so when we turn up to negotiate they know we are not afraid of walking out.

"If we cannot get a deal we should, with great regret, leave without one, having done everything we can to minimise disruption."

Mr Javid is a lifelong Eurosceptic who backed Remain in the 2016 referendum, but has since been trying to shore up his Brexiteer credentials.

He finished his bid to convince his party to back him with: "That's why we need a leader who can unite the party, and country, behind a credible plan – and then go and actually deliver it.

"I believe this is that plan. And I know I am that leader."

Mr Javid entered Parliament in 2010 and served as Culture Secretary, Business Secretary and Communities Secretary before being promoted to his current job last year.

The frontrunner out of the 12 MPs is Boris Johnson with Dominic Raab, Esther McVey and Andrea Leadsom vying to take his crown as the top Brexiteer in the race.

Cabinet ministers Jeremy Hunt, Michael Gove, Matt Hancock and Rory Stewart have also put their names forward.

Other potential candidates for the leadership include Penny Mordaunt, James Cleverly, Graham Brady and Steve Baker.

What next in the Tory leadership election?

THERESA May's resignation on Friday kickstarted the Tory leadership election.

The Prime Minister will formally stand down as party leader on June 7 – but will stay in place while the new PM is being chosen, rather than handing over to an interim chief such as David Lidington.

The leadership contest, overseen by party chairman Brandon Lewis, will take around six weeks.

Any Tory MP can enter the race, and the list of contenders is then whittled down by the parliamentary party.

MPs vote in multiple rounds, eliminating one candidate each time until just two are left.

The party's 160,000 activists then choose behind the final shortlist of two, with the winner declared leader and Prime Minister.

When Mrs May became leader, she didn't have to submit to a vote of members because Andrea Leadsom pulled out of the race.

So the last time activists have had a say on the leadership was 2005, when David Cameron defeated David Davis.


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