Tory leadership: What will Theresa May do on her final day as Prime Minister?
TORY LEADERSHIP voting closes today after a month of competition between Boris Johnson and Jeremy Hunt, as Theresa May prepares to tender her resignation tomorrow. What will Theresa May do on her final day as Prime Minister?
Iran flag hoisted over seized UK tanker Stena Impero
Theresa May officially resigned as Prime Minister last month on June 7, igniting a bitter leadership race for her replacement. Jeremy Hunt and Boris Johnson are now the final two choices to lead the Conservative Party. The 180,000 strong Tory voter base allegedly favour Mr Johnson, agreeing with the former London Mayor’s tough Brexit stance. Outgoing Prime Minister Theresa May will meet with the Queen tomorrow, after a busy final day in office.
What will Theresa May do on her final day as Prime Minister?
Theresa May won’t spend her final day in office twiddling her thumbs, as she has a busy day ahead of her.
Today, Theresa May will chair an emergency Cobra meeting to tackle the crisis in Iran.
The Iranian Revolutionary Guard captured a British tanker in the Persian Gulf last week, claiming the Stena Impero was “not following international maritime regulations” when it entered the Strait of Hormuz.
READ MORE: Iran arrests foreign 'spies'
Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt will brief the House of Commons following the meeting this afternoon.
MPs have been quick to attack Mrs May for government oversight in the crisis.
Former Tory leader Iain Duncan Smith - who is in charge of Boris Johnson’s election campaign - said the Prime Minister made a “major miscalculation” in refusing outside help.
He said: “Britain was offered whatever assistance is necessary to protect British ships and commanders out there were willing to help."
READ MORE: Royal Navy 'too small' to operate on global stage
“The Government failed to take them up on the offer and the reason was that we didn’t want to upset the Iranians.
“They made a major miscalculation.
“It was a big misjudgement and it goes all the way to the top.”
The Stena Impero is now stationed at the port of Bandar Abbas in southern Iran.
READ MORE: Iran risks being dragged into 'war of the century'
Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt said there were no British crew members aboard the ship, who are Indian, Russian, Latvian and Filipino.
On Friday the Prime Minister hopeful released a statement saying he is seeking to de-escalate the situation and work with Tehran.
He said: “Our Ambassador in Tehran is in contact with the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs to resolve the situation and we are working closely with international partners.
Mr Hunt later tweeted: “Reaffirmed UK desire to de-escalate but confirmed Stena Impero was seized in OMANI waters in clear contravention of international law.”