Conservatives in dilemma over new leader

LONDON, June 26 

Britain’s ruling Conservatives, too, are reeling from the referendum result as a bitter leadership contest is on in the party. Prime Minister David Cameron has said he will resign — prompting a fierce battle to replace him. It fell to Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon to describe events as “a vacuum of leadership”.

Cameron has said he will stay on in his post until October to try to help reassure the public and markets, but his decision to announce his resignation immediately after the vote has unsettled those who campaigned to leave the European Union.

Former London mayor Boris Johnson, whose support for the leave camp galvanised the “Out” campaign, is favourite to replace Cameron but media have reported that there is a group of pro-Cameron lawmakers looking for “anyone but Boris”. Foreign Minister Philip Hammond ruled himself out of the contest, but said: “It’s got to be somebody who can unite the Conservative Party ... but it’s also got to be somebody with a credible strategy for dealing ... with the challenge of negotiating an exit from the EU without destroying our prosperity in the process.” — Reuters