A leadership contender in the morning, PM-designate by lunch

Theresa May woke up yesterday expecting to set out her vision for the country, ahead of a two-month campaign for the leadership of the Conservative Party. By tomorrow evening, that vision will be government policy.

New Conservative Party leader Theresa May speaks to the media. Picture: Getty

Old clichés have been smashed by the speed of politics in a ruthless post-Brexit world. A week isn’t a long time in politics anymore – these days, 45 minutes is an age.

That’s how long it took between the Home Secretary launching her leadership campaign and her rival, the Brexiteer’s darling Andrea Leadsom, crowning her victorious.

Ms Leadsom’s hastily-convened concession statement diverted reporters from the launch of another leadership campaign, with Labour’s Angela Eagle left calling for questions from absent political editors who turned around as news of the announcement broke.

Just after noon, grim-faced Brexit-backing Tory MPs filed out of a building around the corner from parliament, led by Iain Duncan Smith, who looked at the ground as Ms Leadsom gave up her challenge.

David Cameron had reportedly hoped to take his children on a final visit to stay with the Queen at Balmoral at the start of September, but that trip is off. He almost seemed relieved as he announced he would instead be presenting Her Majesty with his resignation.

At 5pm, Tory MPs gathered to hear Graham Brady, the chairman of the 1922 Committee, ratify Ms May’s elevation to party leader. MPs filed out of Westminster to cheer their new leader who vowed to “build a better Britain”.

By tomorrow evening, Ms May will be writing out orders to commanders of the UK’s submarine fleet in the event of a nuclear attack – 48 hours after her campaign launch.