The Tory Party may have found another iron lady in Theresa May

We agree. Mrs May has exactly the right qualifications to be prime minister. Aside from a wealth of experience in opposition, she has also made a place for herself in the history books by holding on to the home office brief for so unusually long. This difficult, controversial department is where political reputations usually go to die: think of how it chewed up and spat out Labour’s Charles Clarke and Jacqui Smith. By contrast, Mrs May proved herself willing to challenge the police on the one hand and the human rights racket on the other – while showing common decency by blocking the unnecessary extradition of Gary McKinnon to the United States.

Mrs May is not, as some may wish to characterise this contest, an insider stooge of the establishment. She has said that she wishes to see Brexit implemented and has articulated the frustrations of voters about the porous state of the UK’s borders. These are issues that have divided the Tories and yet, as Mrs Patel argues, her experience commands respect on all sides of her party. And that will be key to commanding authority in Parliament.

Alas, experience of government does not apply so well to Andrea Leadsom, who has never served in the Cabinet. Mrs Leadsom is an exceptionally talented politician whose drive and focus made an invaluable contribution to the Leave campaign. She is one to watch, a person who has tapped into the anger and ambitions of grassroots Conservatives by articulating their philosophy in a down-to-Earth and upbeat manner. But, sadly, there is simply no escaping the fact that she is untested.

Mrs Leadsom’s recent controversy over the role of motherhood in politics was a classic example of how not to approach a press interview. It appears that she made the error of articulating exactly what she wanted to avoid saying – that being a mother gave her important perspectives that others may lack – and being naive enough to think that a journalist would not choose to publish the story. While many will sympathise with the gaffe, the point is that this is not a time to elect a Tory leader who makes gaffes. That leader will also be prime minister, a prime minister who will have to steer the country through what could be a long, complex process of negotiations with the EU – a process filled with ample opportunities to say the wrong thing.

Britain’s present situation calls for calm, cool leadership. The UK has just committed 650 troops to Nato’s attempt to discourage Russian aggression towards the Baltic states. Additional personnel are also being sent to Afghanistan to help shore up the situation there. At home, the markets are still reacting to Brexit and are looking for reassurance that there is a plan in place to sustain consumer and investor confidence. And Britain is going to have to forge new trade links with the rest of the world – hence talks have already begun with India.

Does this sound like a moment to take risks? No. Of course, we understand entirely that many party members are frustrated with broken promises and a leadership that has sometimes felt distant. This newspaper has been articulating their concerns for a long time – and we will continue to do so. Our job is to hold whoever wins this contest to account. If the winner gets Brexit right, the opportunities for Britain are splendid. The referendum has given this country a chance not only to rethink its relationship with Europe but also to unleash new energies in global trade – to reclaim sovereignty and rejuvenate democracy.

We believe that task is best entrusted to Mrs May. Britain has been led by a woman of tremendous will and substance before, and the outcome was a rather good one. Mrs Patel draws a comparison between Margaret Thatcher and Mrs May, and while they are very different in many ways, what is striking is that both are characterised by a remarkable strength of character and by the ability to command respect among their peers. We trust that in Mrs May, the Tory Party has found itself another iron lady.