London (CNN)British Prime Minister David Cameron is to resign Wednesday, paving the way for Home Secretary Theresa May to take the reins.
May
was officially named Conservative Party leader and successor to Cameron
"with immediate effect" Monday, said Graham Brady, chair of the 1922
Committee, a collection of Conservative members of Parliament key to
electing the party leader. She will replace Cameron on Wednesday
evening.
In remarks shortly after her leadership
was affirmed, May said her priorities will be to administer Britain's
exit from the European Union, a move approved by voters last month, to
unite the country and to create a "strong, new, positive vision for the
future," not just for the privileged few, but for everyone.
Cameron
had already announced he would step down by October after failing to
convince the country to remain in the EU in the divisive June 23
referendum that sent shockwaves through Britain's political
establishment.
But Monday, May's
only remaining rival to replace Cameron -- Energy Minister Andrea
Leadsom -- pulled out of the race following controversy over comments she made about motherhood and leadership.
"Obviously,
with these changes, we now don't need to have a prolonged period of
transition. And so tomorrow I will chair my last Cabinet meeting. On
Wednesday I will attend the House of Commons for Prime Minister's
questions," Cameron told reporters Monday outside 10 Downing Street.
"And
then after that I expect to go to the palace and offer my resignation.
So we will have a new prime minister in that building behind me by
Wednesday evening." The vote
between May and Leadsom was supposed to go to the wider Conservative
Party of 150,000 people, but being the sole candidate, May sidestepped
the party rule.
Cameron welcomed
Leadsom's decision to drop out of the race and said he was confident May
would steer the country in the right direction, calling her strong and
competent, and offering her his full support.
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