LONDON: Britain’s David Cameron said he would resign as prime minister on Wednesday, paving the way for interior minister Theresa May to take over the job the same day.
“We’ll have a new prime minister in that building behind me by Wednesday evening,” Cameron told reporters outside his Downing Street residence, explaining that he would hold his final Prime Minister’s Questions session in parliament on Wednesday before meeting Queen Elizabeth II to step down.
Britain has faced the worst political turmoil in generations following June 23’s shock vote to leave the European Union, which prompted Cameron to step down.
His Conservatives have endured a bitter leadership race while the leader of the main opposition Labour party, Jeremy Corbyn, is also facing a challenge to his job.
While May supported Britain staying in the EU, she cut a low profile during the referendum and has insisted she will honour the vote, stressing: “Brexit means Brexit”.
“There will be no attempts to remain inside the EU, there will be no attempts to rejoin it by the back door, no second referendum,” she said at a campaign event before Leadsom pulled out.
May wants to begin formal talks to leave the EU by the end of the year at the earliest despite pressure from Brussels to speed up.
Jeroen Dijsselbloem, the Dutch finance minister who heads the Eurogroup of his 19 eurozone counterparts, restated calls for the transfer of power to take place as soon as possible.
“The sooner we can sort out — let me say it diplomatically — this problematic situation, the better,” Dijsselbloem told reporters.
