UK Politics

Theresa May to succeed Cameron as UK PM on Wednesday

Media captionDavid Cameron announces his departure date

Theresa May is to become the UK's prime minister on Wednesday evening - after David Cameron announced he would quit after Prime Minister's Questions.

Speaking outside 10 Downing Street, Mr Cameron said he would offer his resignation to the Queen on Wednesday afternoon at Buckingham Palace.

Mrs May's only rival to succeed Mr Cameron as Conservative leader, Andrea Leadsom, pulled out earlier on Monday.

Mr Cameron, PM since 2010, decided to quit after the UK's Brexit vote.

In a brief statement outside No 10, Mr Cameron said Mrs Leadsom had made "absolutely the right decision" to stand aside and that he was "delighted" Mrs May, the home secretary, was to succeed him.

He said a "prolonged period of transition" was not necessary, and added: "So tomorrow I will chair my last cabinet meeting. On Wednesday I will attend the House of Commons for Prime Minister's Questions.

"After that I expect to go the Palace and offer my resignation."

The prime minister praised Mrs May as "strong" and "competent" and he said she was "more than able to provide the leadership" the UK needs in the coming years.

"She will have my full support," he added.

What happens next?

Image copyright PA
  • The 1922 committee of Conservative MPs, which is overseeing the leadership contest, has declared Mrs May the new party leader "with immediate effect".
  • David Cameron says he will do Prime Minister's Questions on Wednesday and then head to Buckingham Palace and officially tender his resignation to the Queen and recommend she sends for Theresa May as his replacement
  • Mrs May will then go to Buckingham Palace to see the Queen and receive her invitation to form a government
  • Theresa May should then be in place as UK prime minister by Wednesday evening - it is not yet clear when the Cameron family will move out of No 10

Mr Cameron's statement came after another day of dramatic developments in the political word, when Mrs Leadsom pulled out of the two-way leadership contest, leaving Mrs May - the front runner - as the only candidate to take over leading the party and become PM.

Mrs Leadsom said she did not have sufficient support among Conservative MPs to lead "a strong and stable government", and gave her backing to the home secretary to succeed Mr Cameron.

Mrs May is expected to make a public statement later.

Media captionTheresa May said there would be no second EU referendum
Media captionAndrea Leadsom reads out a statement explaining the end of her leadership bid

BBC chief political correspondent Vicki Young said events were "moving very rapidly".

She said Mrs May had begun the day launching her leadership campaign to take to the party membership - and within the space of several hours found out she would be prime minister by Wednesday.

Mrs May would now have to decide the make-up of her new cabinet, she said.

Mr Cameron announced his intention to resign as prime minister on 24 June, after finding himself on the losing side of the EU referendum, with the UK voting by 52% to 48% in favour of leaving.