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Theresa May looks set to become UK's first woman prime minister since Thatcher

Andrea Leadsom has pulled out of the race, leaving the home secretary as the only candidate.

Gianluca Mezzofiore

on July 11, 2016

Original image has been replaced. Credit: Mashable

LONDON -- Home Secretary Theresa May is widely tipped to become Britain's next prime minister after the only other contender to the leadership of the Conservative Party pulled out of the race.

Andrea Leadsom was up against May in the race to succeed David Cameron as Tory leader and prime minister after Britain decided to leave the European Union.

But on Monday she withdrew from the contest, adding that May is "ideally placed" to implement Brexit.

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"After careful consideration I do not believe I have sufficient support to lead a strong and stable government," Leadsom said in a televised statement.

A nine-week leadership campaign is "highly undesirable," she said.

“I would have been honoured to lead the Conservatives," Leadsom said, adding that nevertheless she will support May “fully."

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Following her statement, Graham Brady, chairman of the Tories' 1922 committee, confirmed May is the only remaining candidate in the leadership race .

He said there are constitutional things that have to happen before there is a change of prime minister. "We're not discussing coronations, we're discussing a proper procedural process," Brady told reporters.

"There will be conversations during the course of the afternoon."

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Former Mayor of London Boris Johnson, who campaigned for Britain to leave the EU and backed Leadsom to become the next prime minister, expressed his support for May in a series of tweets: