MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

“Brexit means Brexit and we're going to make a success of it”, pledges Theresa May

Speaking outside Parliament, Mrs. May said she was “honored and humbled” to succeed David Cameron, after her only rival in the race withdrew on Monday.

Home Secretary Theresa May promised to build a “better Britain” and to make the UK's EU exit a “success” after she was announced as the new Tory leader and soon-to-be PM. Speaking outside Parliament, Mrs. May said she was “honored and humbled” to succeed David Cameron, after her only rival in the race withdrew on Monday.

 Outgoing Prime Minister David Cameron will tender his resignation to the Queen after PMQs on Wednesday. PM Cameron, who has been UK prime minister since 2010, decided to quit after the UK's Brexit vote.

It follows another day of dramatic developments in the political world, when Andrea Leadsom unexpectedly quit the two-way Conservative leadership contest, saying she did not have the support to build “a strong and stable government”.

Her decision left Mrs. May - the front runner - as the only candidate to take over leading the party and to therefore become prime minister.

In a speech flanked by dozens of Conservative MPs, Mrs. May, the home secretary since 2010, praised Mr. Cameron for his stewardship of the Tory party and the country.

And she paid tribute to Mrs. Leadsom for her “dignity” in withdrawing her leadership bid, as well as to the three other candidates who ran in the contest.

“I am honored and humbled to have been chosen by the Conservative Party to become its leader,” Mrs. May told the gathered media.

She said her leadership bid had been based on the need for “strong, proven leadership”, the ability to unite both party and country and a “positive vision” for Britain's future.

“A vision of a country that works not for the privileged few but that works for every one of us because we're going to give people more control over their lives and that's how, together, we will build a better Britain.”

And in a message perhaps designed to reassure Brexit-supporting colleagues, Mrs. May - who campaigned to stay in the EU, said: “Brexit means Brexit and we're going to make a success of it.”

The 1922 Committee of Conservative MPs, which is overseeing the leadership contest, declared Mrs. May the new party leader “with immediate effect”.

David Cameron has said he will take 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 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.

Earlier, in a brief statement outside No 10, PM Cameron said he was “delighted” that Mrs. May was to succeed him in Downing Street.

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.

Announcing her decision to pull out of the contest, Mrs. Leadsom - who was a leading light of the Brexit campaign - said a nine-week leadership campaign at such a “critical time” for the UK would be “highly undesirable” - and she gave her backing to Mrs. May.