UK prime minister, Theresa May said on Friday morning she would step down due to her failure to deliver on the people’s vote to leave the European Union.
The game is on to select a new PM with Boris Johnson in the running to deliver on Brexit.
A new leader should be installed by the end of July with hard line Brexiteers likely to attract support.
The British can expect a full on collision with Brussels and a general election.
Boris Johnson, the odds-on favourite for the premiership already has said that Britain should be prepared to leave the EU without a deal so as to force the Union to offer an improved deal.
The serving foreign minister, Jeremy Hunt, is running against Johnson also confirmed he would run for the leadership.
May’s emotional resignation speech, included the words, “I will shortly leave the job that has been the honour of my life to hold.”
“I do so with no ill will but with enormous and enduring gratitude to have had the opportunity to serve the country I love,” said May.
“It is, and will always remain, a matter of deep regret to me that I have not been able to deliver Brexit,” May said, adding that her successor will have to find a consensus to honour the 2016 referendum result.
Labour Party leader, Jeremy Corbyn, said the new prime minister must hold an election to, “let the people decide our country’s future.”
May leaves Britain with a deep division over Brexit with the latest deadline for departure set for Oct. 31.
The EU has stated that it will not renegotiate the Withdrawal Agreement it sealed with Britain in November 2018.
European Commission President, Jean-Claude Drunker, commented that he heard the news of May’s departure, “without personal joy.”
Johnson is the favourite to succeed May, with betting markets giving him a 40% probability of winning.
Others tipped are Dominic Raab, Environment Secretary Michael Gove, and the former House of Commons leader Andrea Leadsom.
Outsiders are Defence Secretary Penny Mordaunt and International Development Secretary Rory Stewart each have a 4% chance of the top job while Home Secretary Sajid Javid has a 3% chance.
The Conservative party said it would move quickly to try to conclude the leadership contest before the summer break summer holiday that starts in in late July.
Comments
But I am not surprised by their departure, the majority of people in Britain have been lied to by their politicians and press.
However, citizens of Britain have the ability to search for the truth and so far have failed themselves, their children and Grandchildren.
Perhaps you should investigate the difference between Europe and the European Union.
NHS, will be privatised and run on the same basis as hospitals in USA.
While sympathising with Boris's wish to remain, his various scenarios are merely typical of the political scare-mongering we've been seeing - in particular, Britons have been assured of Visa-free Schengen access. Nice try, though.
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Britain leaving the EU will bring around the biggest changes, since the second world war.
NHS, will be privatised and run on the same basis as hospitals in USA.
JOB'S, manufacturing is already being affected by Brixit and Britain have not even left yet, as thousands of jobs have already been lost.
SHOP'S, the range of food will no longer be available to British shoppers, as tariffs will push the price of imported goods up by an average of 40%.
Clothes shops, Debenhams, Selfridges have already closed and this is just the start of whats to come.
And, then there's travel, people from non-EU countries are charged more for car hire, travel and car insurance, plus the paperwork for Visa's.
I hope that Britain's wish to leave the richest trading bloc in the world, is worth it.
though.....IMITATION .... is the sincerist form of flattery.....
We Britons, who were denied our original say by Cameron, can but live in hope..
BTW, racism is covertly prevalent in most countries, not that this is relevant to TM's resignation, nor Brexit.
It's time we dismantle the EU parliament and go back to just free trade and open borders for EU citizens.
There is something fundamentally wrong with your comment Boris H. Being part of the EU isnt just about the convenience jumping on a Jet2 flight and flying to the Algarve for some egg and chips washed down with Matheus rose. Thats what all you Remainers wish for. Leaving the EU has far bigger positive ramifications that include long term social and environmental issues and not just ease of travel.
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One wonders what these people are thinking, because once Britain leaves the European Union, it's citizens will be in the same position as any other Third country or non-EU country with restrictions on travel and so on ....