Why Theresa May’s exit won’t fix British politics – and could make it even more chaotic

The Conservative Party must now choose a new leader: it will be the first indicator of the party’s future make-up and ideological balance

The existence of a rising pro-Brexit, anti-Europe party threatens to splinter the Conservatives even more than they have been

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Theresa May has quit as British prime minister. Photo: Bloomberg

Published: 8:10am, 25 May 2019Updated: 10:21pm, 25 May 2019

The resignation of British Prime Minister Theresa May might be seen as the key that unlocks the country from the debilitating debate over leaving the European Union. More likely is that her departure sets off a period that will bring even greater challenges and potentially more chaos to a weakened political system.

May tried for nearly three years to implement the Brexit referendum of June 2016 that, by a narrow margin, called for the country to sever ties with the EU. Her mistakes were many, her political skills limited, her opponents implacable. Finally the members of her party, their patience run out, forced her to step aside. Her resignation resolves little, however, other than to make others try to do what she could not.

What comes next? Oh, nothing much, other than a fractious fight to pick a new Conservative Party leader and prime minister, the October 31 deadline for leaving the EU on terms still not known, and potentially a general election at some point that will test the coalitions of the Tories and the Labour Party.

It was perhaps fitting that May announced her resignation just as the elections for the European Parliament were taking place. The elections could bring significant setbacks to the major parties, but especially the Conservatives, due to the return of Nigel Farage under the banner of his new Brexit party. Those results on Sunday could be an indicator of what lies ahead.

The existence of a rising pro-Brexit, anti-Europe party threatens to splinter the Conservatives even more than they have been. Whatever strength Farage’s party shows in the European elections will be the first volley in the battle over the future direction of the Conservative Party at home.

The coming leadership contest will be the first indicator of the party’s future make-up and ideological balance.

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