After receiving official confirmation she had won a leadership contest of the ruling Conservative Party following the exit of the only other candidate, May told reporters: “Brexit means Brexit and we are going to make a success of it. we need to unite our country”. On Wednesday, after prime minister’s questions, Mr Cameron said he would go to the palace to offer his resignation and that the new prime minister would be in place by Wednesday evening.
Advertisement
Current Prime Minister David Cameron announced in the wake of the country’s vote to leave the European Union that he will step down from leadership of his party sometime this fall.
In a statement at 12.15pm the Leave campaigner and former South Oxfordshire District Councillor said that while she would have been “deeply honoured” to serve as Prime Minister, having the backing of just 25 per cent of Tory MPs was “not sufficient support to lead a strong and stable government”.
One of the most experienced ministers in government, May is set to be the country’s new prime minister following 18 tumultuous days in politics since the European Union referendum.
Speaking on the steps of her campaign headquarters in Westminster, the Energy Minister wished Mrs May “the very greatest success” and promised her “my full support”.
The 22 member Conservative Party board is now said to be at work to ensure a smooth and swift handover from David Cameron to Theresa May.
“I wish Theresa May the very greatest of success, I assure her of my full support”, Efe news quoted her as saying.
The parallels between Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn – popular with the grassroots, but unpopular with the parliamentary party – could not be ignored by her campaign team. He is refusing to resign and says he can win a leadership battle, which would be decided by a vote of party members. “Second we need to unite our country and third we need a strong new positive vision for the future of our country”, the incoming PM said.
At lunchtime, shortly after a key campaign speech by the Home Secretary, her only rival in the Tory leadership race, Andrea Leadsom, withdrew.
“Strong leadership is needed urgently to begin the work of withdrawing from the European Union”, Leadsom said.
Leadsom’s decision to quit came after the weekend uproar over her comments about the role of motherhood in politics. She is a mother; May is not.
Theresa May has promised to give British people “more control over their lives”, after a day of drama in Westminster saw her coronation as David Cameron’s successor as Prime Minister. “She has my full support as our next prime minister”.
Mrs May paid tribute to her rival candidates in the race, including Mrs Leadsom who she said had shown “dignity”, and also expressed her gratitude to Mr Cameron.
Advertisement
He will formally tender his resignation as Prime Minister and advise Her Majesty that Mrs May, the new Tory Party leader, is the person able to command a majority of the House of Commons.
