While May was a lukewarm Remain campaigner, eurosceptic Leadsom enjoys support from many in the Conservative party who campaigned to leave the EU.
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“This shows the party can come together under my leadership and it will.
She has said she will deliver the democratic decision of the country”.
The victor will replace David Cameron, who announced his resignation shortly after the UK Independence Party’s “leave” campaign won a referendum to exit the European Union.
“Those are the things that my colleagues have voted in such numbers for today and I’m confident that those are the things that will win the support of members across the county and of the whole country”.
As Mr Gove slowed down to turn into his home, the reporter shouted “You’re not running anymore, who are you backing Andrea or Theresa?”
It is now certain that the victor will go on to become Britain’s second female Prime Minister after Margaret Thatcher.
Endorsement from the Telegraph will be welcome to the 59-year-old May, whose main difficulty in the contest is that she campaigned for a “remain” vote in the European Union referendum in June, albeit in a low-key fashion.
The early September date for the leadership results to be announced cast a cloud of uncertainty over the next two months as to how the island will move forward with its departure. Her victory was predicted in polls ahead of the second-round ballot.
Penny Mordaunt, the Tory lawmaker who introduced Leadsom’s speech, later denied that the candidate’s reference to austerity marked a departure from the Conservative Party’s current goal of slowing the growth of government spending.
Leadsom, 53, was visible throughout the Brexit campaign.
“They both went to state schools, they are both women, hey, that’s pretty quirky for the Tory party. Hey, that’s pretty quirky for the Tory party”, Loughton added.
“I want to offer particular congratulations to Andrea Leadsom on her stunning achievement”.
The next Prime Minister will face the hugely challenging and delicate task of disentangling Britain from the European Union, whilst attempting to maintain the best possible deal for the country and Ms Leadsom, a prominent Leave campaigner, has previously refused to rule out the prospect of Mr Farage taking part in future Brexit talks. That vote narrowed the race down to two contenders: Theresa May and Andrea Leadsom.
Just 46 votes were cast in his favour in the second round ballot among MPs at Westminster yesterday, while 84 backed Mrs Leadsom the energy minister.
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But Ms Davidson called for Mrs May to guarantee that European Union migrants in the United Kingdom should be allowed to remain after Brexit.
