Could 'sensible' home secretary Theresa May succeed Cameron?
Theresa May takes on racism in latest move to modernise 'nasty party'
To people outside Britain, a government minister talking about ending the persecution of young black men by the police might seem unremarkable.
When Home Secretary Theresa May did so in her speech to the ruling Conservative party's annual convention on Tuesday it was the latest landmark in a 12-year battle to modernise her party that reinforced her claim to succeed Prime Minister David Cameron as its leader.
In 2002, as Conservative chairwoman, May was met with a deluge of criticism as she told delegates the Tories led for 15 years by Margaret Thatcher had to soften their image and stop being the "nasty party". Her latest call for an inclusive and tolerant approach to policing drew warm applause.
"I am determined to make sure that nobody should ever be stopped and searched because of the colour of their skin," May said. "Imagine what it's like to feel, deep down, that this is only happening because you're young, male and black."
May's performance in Birmingham gave further credence to the prime minister's suggestion in a television interview earlier in the day that she was a possible successor, along with London Mayor Boris Johnson and Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne.
"The idea of once again electing a woman as leader - recalling Margaret Thatcher - is appealing," said Wyn Grant, professor of politics at Warwick University. "She offers a sensible, statesman-like form of leadership; tough leadership that's in tune with basic Conservative values and not susceptible to eccentricity like Boris Johnson."
May, who is the daughter of a clergyman, turned 58 yesterday. She started her working life at the Bank of England before becoming head of European affairs for the Association for Payment Clearing Services, a financialservices trade association.
A spat with Michael Gove, one of Cameron's closest political allies and then education secretary, demonstrated her ability to outmanoeuvre her opponents, a crucial skill if she is to win the Tory leadership.
Gove briefed newspaper that May's department was failing to fight extremism. May's adviser, Fiona Cunningham, responded by releasing a letter from May to Gove questioning his department's reaction to warnings about hard-line Islamists infiltrating schools in Birmingham. Gove apologised, Cunningham resigned and a month later Gove was demoted. May kept her job.
May emerged "emboldened and strengthened" from the argument and consolidated her position in the party, said Andrew Russell, who teaches politics at Manchester University.
