British Prime Minister Theresa May on Friday announced in an emotional manner she would quit, triggering a contest that will bring a new leader to power who is likely to push for a more decisive Brexit divorce deal.
Prime Minister Theresa May has said she will quit as Conservative leader on 7 June, paving the way for a contest to decide a new prime minister. In an emotional statement, she said she had done her best to deliver Brexit and it was a matter of "deep regret" that she had been unable to do so.
May said she would continue to serve as PM while a Conservative leadership contest took place. The party said it hoped a new leader could be in place by the end of July. It means May will still be prime minister when US President Donald Trump makes his state visit to the UK at the start of June.
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Asked about the prime minister's announcement, Donald Trump said: "I feel badly for Theresa. I like her very much. She's a good woman. She worked very hard. She's very strong."
May's departure will deepen the Brexit crisis as a new leader is likely to want a more decisive split, raising the chances of a confrontation with the European Union and a snap parliamentary election.
The leading contenders to succeed May all want a tougher divorce deal, although the EU has said it will not renegotiate the Withdrawal Treaty it sealed in November.