Brexit reveals that politics really is a woman’s game

As the result of Britain’s EU referendum started to sink in on the morning after the vote, there was a range of reactions from its leading actors. Many could be uncharitably described as, frankly, girlie. Prime minister David Cameron nearly cried as he resigned; George Osborne, chancellor of the exchequer, hid; and Out campaigners Michael Gove and Boris Johnson looked shamefaced at their “victory” press conference.

In the days since, the spectacle has become even less edifying. Mr Cameron, having said he would immediately trigger Article 50 and EU exit talks after a Leave vote, but would not resign as prime minister, promptly reneged on both commitments. Mr Osborne acknowledged that his threats to impose a “punishment” budget were merely that. Mr Gove, the justice secretary, said he would stand for Tory leader, having vehemently denied that he planned to, betraying Mr Johnson in the process. Mr Gove did not, according to the Johnson camp, even have the guts to ring his campaign ally before stabbing him in the back in public. Meanwhile Mr Johnson, in the wounding accusation of Michael Heseltine, the former deputy prime minister - who is no stranger to political betrayal himself - has run away at the sound of gunfire.

And while the Conservatives burned, Labour fiddled. Tom Watson, the opposition party’s deputy leader, came back from the Glastonbury festival last weekend to turn on his boss. Jeremy Corbyn’s stubborn clinging to power seems more and more like the attitude of a child who closes his eyes in the face of realities he doesn’t like, in the mistaken belief that this will make them disappear.

None of the above has taken any responsibility for the political chaos engulfing the UK. Nor do they appear to think there is anything wrong with putting their narrow self-interest before the country’s. Politics, it seems, is a playground game.

Meanwhile, over in Europe, Emmanuel Macron, French economy minister, threatened to send the migrants gathered in Calais to England. Matteo Renzi, the Italian prime minister, tried to take advantage of the mood of uncertainty by proposing - for the fourth time - an illegal bank bailout for the EU to approve. Russia’s answer to Donald Trump, Vladimir Zhirinovsky, described the EU itself as a creation of the “financial mafia [and]globalists”.

Thank God there were some exceptions.

Only one person looked composed and in control on June 24: Scotland’s first minister Nicola Sturgeon, whose speech in Edinburgh, flanked by the Scottish and European flags, was not just measured but statesmanlike.

Outside the UK, Angela Merkel, Germany’s chancellor, has firmly staked out her own - and the EU’s - position but has preached calm and conciliation while doing so.

It may be that political debate has been debased in the wake of a divisive referendum campaign. But Ms Sturgeon’s impeccable tone - not to mention her maquillage - and “Mutti” Merkel’s maturity threw into stark relief how much the campaign’s male players have failed to rise to the occasion. And as the days have gone by it seems that not just the politicians but the electorate too have recognised that, since the men have screwed up so badly, it is time to hand over to the women.

In the Tory party leadership campaign, it looks increasingly likely that Mrs May will beat Mr Gove to the premiership. As she said in her campaign launch speech, Mrs May does not gossip over lunches, nor does she go drinking in parliament bars. As she has shown during an unusually long tenure of six years as home secretary, she just gets on with the job. In other words, she is not one of the boys. Instead, she could become the UK’s second female prime minister, tasked with negotiating with the EU on the terms of Britain’s exit from the bloc - a process largely determined by its most powerful leader, another woman.

Across the House, if Angela Eagle, former business secretary, manages to prise Mr Corbyn’s fingernails from the top Labour job, Britain could rejoice in two women at the helm of its biggest political parties - and one gay at that - as well as a woman leading parliament north of the border.

Mrs May has often been compared to a headmistress, frequently by those not intending to flatter. But never, it seems, has the UK needed a politician with that kind of maturity and discipline. These qualities are not only the preserve of women, although the past few days could give one an excuse for believing so. For the moment, though, the men must sit on the naughty step. It is time for the grown-ups to take charge.

Sarah Gordon is business editor of the Financial Times.

Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2016