YP Comment: Where are the great leaders? Boothroyd attacks '˜toxic' politics

Both Mrs May, the vastly experienced Home Secretary, and her more inexperienced rival – Mrs Leadsom is the Energy Minister – have achieved their prominence on merit, and that is to the credit of both women.

Yet, like Margaret Thatcher who inherited a broken country and economy in 1979, the next Tory leader will come to office in equally challenging circumstances – British politics remains in a state of flux after the Conservative and Labour parties imploded simultaneously following the UK’s vote to leave the European Union.

Both candidates are duty-bound to conduct the forthcoming campaign in a businesslike manner rather than rehashing the mistakes that were made in a divisive referendum campaign. As Yorkshire’s very own Betty Boothroyd, the first female Speaker of the Commons, bemoaned, contemporary politics is bereft of true leaders. “There is no Churchill in the Tory party to lead us, and Jeremy Corbyn is no Clem Attlee,” she lamented.

It remains to be seen whether the new PM will call a general election and seek their own mandate – Baroness Boothroyd implies that this will be the best way of resolving the current impasse. Yet she makes a telling remark when she warns that a “toxic” political culture has been brought into disrepute by the “sloganising” that polarised the immigration debate during the referendum. Unfortunately this process of cleansing cannot begin until the Conservative and Labour parties settle their leadership differences. The sooner this happens, the better, and hopefully it will be in a statesmanlike manner – Britain deserves nothing less.

Brexit blame game

IT is important that Britain does not talk itself into a recession because of the Brexit vote – and the political turmoil that has followed over the past fortnight. This country is still open for business and the decision by chemicals giant INEOS Oxide to expand its Hull plant, one of the biggest boosts for UK manufacturing since the June 23 referendum, is a major vote of confidence in UK plc.

Two things need to happen. A new government needs to be formed, the sooner the better, so David Cameron’s successor can offer some clarity on their intentions. It would be prudent of the next PM to heed the wise words of Nigel Lawson – the former Chancellor of the Exchequer who said: “The rest of the world is outside the so-called Single Market and trades happily and profitably with the European Union. You do not need a trade agreement to trade.”

And it would also be advisable if there was a politician or economist who can admonish those businesses who are using Brexit to mask their own failings. Take Marks & Spencer. Its clothing arm 
has just recorded its worst set of trading results for 11 years, with the firm attributing the sales slowdown between April 
and June to a slump in consumer confidence because of Brexit.

However the fact of the matter is that M&S clothes were going out of fashion long before politicians started contemplating a referendum – and blaming Brexit simply suggests that Steve Rowe, head of the department store, is in denial about the extent to which young and old customers have been alienated by his institution’s fashion faux pax.

Diversion tactics

IF NORTH Yorkshire ever needed a strong summer, it is now. A county largely forgotten after last winter’s floods, the current holiday season is of critical importance to local tourism businesses.

Yet what have the powers-that-be at County Hall decided to do? They intend to close the scenic B6160 tourist route from Buckden to Aysgarth, a route that links Upper Wharfedale and Wensleydale, during the peak holiday period, for flood alleviation work to be carried out.

Though the closure will be limited to 8am to 4pm from July 12-20 before another closure in October, the timing leaves much to be desired despite North Yorkshire County Council saying it needs optimum weather conditions for the work to be undertaken.

Given that tourism is the county’s most important industry, and the fragility of the rural economy, does this work need to be undertaken at the busiest time of 2016? Local businesses will await the council’s response with interest.