Theresa May, Michael Gove Join Battle to Succeed David Cameron

The battle to succeed Prime Minister David Cameron as head of Britain's Conservative Party heated up Thursday, as two prominent members of his cabinet said they would contest the leadership and more were poised to join them.

Home Secretary Theresa May announced her candidacy, while the British Broadcasting Corp. reported that Justice Secretary Michael Gove, one of the most prominent backers of the campaign for the U.K. to leave the EU, would run.

The charismatic former London Mayor Boris Johnson, another prominent Brexit backer, is expected to announce his candidacy later Thursday.

Britain's vote to break away from the EU has thrown Britain's political scene into upheaval, prompting Mr. Cameron to resign and opening up a political vacuum as candidates jostle for position.

Ms. May proclaimed her credentials as a steady leader in turbulent times and promised to heal the nation's divisions.

"Following last week's referendum, our country needs strong, proven leadership to steer us through this period of economic and political uncertainty, and to negotiate the best possible terms as we leave the European Union," Ms. May wrote in The Times newspaper.

With an eye aimed at her nearest rival, Mr. Johnson, who has kept a low profile since the vote, she underlined her credentials as a leader unafraid of making tough decisions.

Mr. Gove had been expected to support Mr. Johnson. He said he was running because he had come "to the conclusion that Boris cannot provide the leadership or build the team for the task ahead," the BBC reported. A representative for Mr. Gove couldn't immediately be reached.

A survey by polling firm YouGov PLC conducted Sunday and Monday suggested Ms. May was slightly more popular among the general public than Mr. Johnson, who was de facto leader of the campaign to leave the EU.

However, some Conservative lawmakers have said that her support of the prime minister's position of remaining in the EU would make it hard for her to be the prime minister to negotiate Britain's exit.

Write to Alexis Flynn at [e-mail]

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

June 30, 2016 05:35 ET (09:35 GMT)

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