Prime Minister Theresa May

Stuff reports:

Incoming British Prime Minister Theresa May says she’s “honoured and humbled” to lead the Conservative Party and the country, after her leadership rival Andrea Leadsom abruptly dropped out of the race overnight.

Prime Minister David Cameron announced he’ll resign on Wednesday, with May to take the reins immediately.

Leadsom’s departure from the leadership contest meant May was immediately elected Conservative Party leader on Monday (local time).

That’s some welcome stability. Means they don’t spend another two months in limbo.

Leadsom, 53, never served in cabinet and was barely known to the British public until she emerged as a prominent voice in the successful Leave campaign.

She had been strongly criticised over a newspaper interview in which she appeared to suggest that being a mother meant she had more of a stake in the country’s future than May, who has no children. Some Conservatives said they were disgusted by the remarks, for which Leadsom later apologised, while others said they showed naivety and a lack of judgment.

Her comments backfired massively. One mistake in an interview and it can all be over.

It will be interesting to see if May does a Cabinet reshuffle once she is PM.