News / Politics
A Bristol link to the next Prime Minister?
The Conservatives are imploding and the race is on to success David Cameron as party leader after his defeat by voters in the EU referendum.
Among the front runners throwing their hats into the ring are three familar faces to Bristol: Stephen Crabb, Sajid Javid and Liam Fox
Stephen Crabb
Stephen Crabb, Work and Pensions Secretary, announced a joint bid for Tory leadership with Sajid Javid. The Welsh MP for Pembrokshire, Crabb has come from a humble background as opposed to his Eton educated counterparts.
He studied Politics and International Relations at the University of Bristol while working on building sites in order to pay for his education. He graduated in 1995 with a first class honours, and went on to attend London Business School. Kingswood MP, Chris Skidmore, has supported Crabb in the nominations for Conservative Party leader.
Sajid Javid
If Crabb gets his way then Business Secretarty Sajid Javid, will be the chancellor. The two MPs launched their joint bid for leadership on Wednesday. Javid is a former investment banker elected as MP for Bromsgrove in 2010.
But his roots are in Bristol. Though he was born in Rochdale, he grew up on Stapleton Road with his father who worked as a bus driver as well as having a market stall selling handmade clothes. He attended Dowend School in the 1980s, then Filton Techincal College before being accepted into Exeter University.
Liam Fox
Crabb and Javid will have to beat off a challenge from Liam Fox, the MP for North Somerset and former Secretary of Defence who resigned over his personal and business relationship with close friend Adam Werritty.
Scottish-born, Fox previously ran for party leadership in 2005. He worked as a GP in the South West before becoming a member of Parliament and he holds regular surgeries for his constituents in Clevedon.