The outgoing PM said he will attend the final session of Prime Minister’s Questions in the House of Commons on Wednesday before visiting Queen Elizabeth to tender his resignation. Theresa May is set to become Britain’s next prime minister after her only rival pulled out in a dramatic twist Monday as turmoil sweeps the political scene following the Brexit vote.
Advertisement
“Using spin and underhand tactics against decent people whose prime motivation is to serve has for too long undermined the confidence of the public in our politics”, he said in a statement.
Andrea Leadsom speaks to the media as she announces her withdrawal from the Conservative leadership race on July 11, 2016 in London.
Theresa supported Britain staying in the European Union, she cut a low profile during the referendum and insisted she will honour the vote, stressing: “Brexit means Brexit”.
May is also known for being tough on immigration, though she wants “to make Britain a country that works not just for a privileged few, but for everyone”.
On Monday morning, there were two candidates to lead the governing Conservative Party.
“The dignified manner of Andrea Leadsom’s withdrawal today allows for that transition to be as swift and smooth as possible”.
Cameron had already announced in June that he would step down by October.
An “emotional” British Prime Minister David Cameron on Tuesday chaired his last cabinet meeting before handing over the baton to Theresa May who will assume charge on Wednesday, becoming the UK’s second woman premier after Margaret Thatcher. Speaking Monday outside the prime minister’s official residence in London, he said he was right to resign in the wake of the United Kingdom referendum result on leaving the European Union and congratulated his home secretary on winning the keys to No 10 Downing Street.
“There will be no attempts to remain inside the European Union, no second referendum”. She pledged to form a strong, proven leadership to steer the country through what will be hard and uncertain economic and political times.
“I’m delighted we’re not going to have a prolonged Conservative leadership election campaign”.
“She will have my full support”, he added. “Business needs certainty, a strong and unified government”. The most prominent contenders to replace him – including “leave” campaign leaders Boris Johnson and Michael Gove – withdrew or were eliminated from contention one by one amid allegations of treachery and scheming. Some 150,000 party members were due to choose between them in the coming weeks, with the result to be announced in September.
Her political stock rose when, in 2013, she succeeded where many other home secretaries before her had failed and successfully deported radical Islamic cleric Abu Qatada to Jordan. “She is strong. She is competent”.
Advertisement
Jon Trickett, Labour’s election coordinator, said: “It is crucial, given the instability caused by the Brexit vote, that the country has a democratically elected prime minister”.
