Theresa May
Home Secretary, MP
As the longest-serving Home Secretary for more than a century, Mrs May is perhaps better placed than any other politician to understand British Jews’ concerns on extremism and rising antisemitism.
After the Hyper Cacher terror attack in Paris last year she attended a Board of Deputies meeting and held a “Je Suis Juif” sign before pledging to “wipe out” Jew hate in Britain.
Popular among the Tory members who will vote for the new leader, Mrs May was very warmly received as the guest speaker at the Community Security Trust’s annual dinner in March.
That followed a lauded Yom Ha’atzmaut speech last year and a visit to Israel to praise the country’s efforts to tackle modern slavery and human trafficking, as well as pledges to defend shechita and her attempt to ban blood libel cleric Raed Salah from Britain.
She would be seen as a safe pair of hands and a continuity candidate in terms of communal relations.
Odds: 5/4
Stephen Crabb
Work and Pensions Secretary, MP
With barely two years’ Cabinet experience, the 43-year-old is perhaps a surprise contender.
He has few Jewish community connections, but just six weeks ago was praised for a Yom Ha’atzmaut address in which he reaffirmed the government’s commitment to fighting Palestinian terror. He is expected to run with Sajid Javid. The Business Secretary has been a prominent opponent of boycotts, and once said it was the only Middle East country he would live in.
His 2014 speech to the Union of Jewish Students was said to be one of the finest ever made by a minister.
Odds: 10/1
Jeremy Hunt
Health Secretary, MP
After being embroiled in the junior doctors row, Mr Hunt said he was “seriously considering” standing for the leadership. He has had little engagement with the Jewish community, but has been impressed with Jewish care homes around the country.
In 2012, as Culture Secretary, Mr Hunt declined to back the campaign for a moment of silence at the London Olympics for the 11 Israeli athletes murdered at the 1972 Munich Games.
Odds: 33/1
Nicky Morgan
Education Secretary, MP
One of the first Tories to declare her interest in succeeding David Cameron, Ms Morgan has some experience of working with the community in her current role. She has praised faith schools and spoke at Yavneh College last October.
The following month she reiterated the need to teach the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in a balanced way following a meeting with the Board of Deputies. Ms Morgan also condemned a Chasidic sect’s ban on women driving.
A strong Europhile, she lacks support within the party and will not be the new leader.
Odds: 66/1
Liam Fox
MP, former Defence Secretary
Once seen as a champion of Israel in the government, Dr Fox repeatedly called for tougher sanctions on Iran and was a prominent speaker at pro-Israel conferences.
But he was also badly scarred by his 2011 cabinet resignation, and the best he can hope for is to return in the new Tory government.
Odds: 16/1
Michael Gove
With Boris Johnson having ruled himself out of the running, those on the Brexit wing of the Conservative Party could rally around Michael Gove as their preferred candidate.
The Justice Secretary is an outspoken Zionist and would guarantee the ties developed between Downing Street and British Jews during the past six years would continue into the next Tory government.
He has been an outspoken critic of the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement and a strong advocate of the government’s recent attempts to prevent local authority boycotts of Israel, describing the effort as “outlawing prejudice paid for by public money.”
Odds: 7/2
Also said to be considering running for the leadership are Sir Alan Duncan, the former International Development Secretary, and Energy Minister Andrea Leadsom.
