Andrea Leadsom: Next Tory leader must be from pro-Brexit camp
The next leader of the Conservative Party and Prime Minister must come from the Brexit camp, Andrea Leadsom said as she made her pitch for the job.
The South Northamptonshire MP said the current favourite Theresa May, who supported the Remain campaign, was a "superb candidate" but was not enthusiastic about leaving the EU.
"I believe the country needs to be led by someone who believes fervently and understands the opportunities of leaving the EU."
Leadsom has emerged as a top pro-Brexit contender to succeed David Cameron.
During the BBC's Andrew Marr show, she claimed she wanted to make Britain "the greatest country on earth"said she had the "real world credentials" to be prime ministerpromised to publish her tax returnsMs Leadsom earlier told the Sunday Telegraph that the UK could pull out of the European Union as early as next year following last month's referendum vote.
She reiterated those calls, saying Britain needed to "get on with" leaving the EU to give certainty to businesses.
"We need to get a grip and make progress."
Leadsom said she had been on "journey" since giving a speech three years ago in which she said leaving the EU would be a "disaster".