Theresa May becomes new Prime minister as Leadsom pulls out

A source close to the energy minister told BBC political editor Laura Kuenssberg "the abuse has been too great" for Mrs Leadsom during the contest.Mrs Leadsom had apologised to Mrs May on Monday after suggesting in a weekend newspaper interview that being a mother made her a better candidate for the job.

 

Mrs May, 59, who backed staying in the EU, has been home secretary since 2010. Mrs Leadsom, who campaigned to leave the EU, said the UK needed "strong and stable government" and that Mrs May was "ideally placed" to implement Brexit.

Mrs Leadsom, who was flanked by some of her supporters, said: "Strong leadership is needed urgently to begin the work of withdrawing from the European Union. A nine-week leadership campaign at such a critical moment is highly undesirable." She said Mrs May, the home secretary, had the support of more than 60% of Conservative MPs and was "ideally placed to implement Brexit on the best possible terms for the British people and she has promised she will do so".

Mrs Leadsom said she was "incredibly grateful" to the 84 colleagues who supported her leadership bid. She said: "There is no greater privilege than to lead the Conservative Party in government and I would have been deeply honoured to do it. "I have however concluded that the interests of our country are best served by the immediate appointment of a strong and well-supported prime minister. "I am therefore withdrawing from the leadership election, and I wish Mrs May the very greatest success."

Source

BBC News