Andrea Leadsom pulls out of Conservative leadership election

Andrea Leadsom has dropped out of the Conservative leadership race, clearing the way for Theresa to be named Britain’s next Prime Minister.

It follows a torrid week for the Tory leadership contender who came under attack from senior Conservative colleagues for her incendiary comments on Theresa May’s childlessness. In an interview this morning Ms Leadsom said that she felt she was “under attack, under enormous pressure”.

“It has been shattering,” she added.

Theresa May will be formally confirmed as the new party leader as soon as the Conservative Party board has been consulted, Graham Brady, the chairman of the Tory backbench 1922 Committee, has said, although he refused to give an exact timetable.

“The best interests of our country inspired me to stand for the leadership. I believe that in leaving the EU a bright future awaits, where all our people can share in a new prosperity, freedom and democracy,” Ms Leadsom said as she announced her decision.

“The referendum result demonstrated a clear desire for change - strong leadership is needed urgently to begin the work of withdrawing from the European Union.

“A nine-week leadership campaign at such a critical moment for our country is highly undesirable.

The junior energy minister, who was a vocal campaigner and voice in the Leave campaign during the European Union referendum, was hedging her bets in the contest on her “outsider” status.

Steve Baker, co-chairman of Conservatives for Britain and one of Ms Leadsom’s prominent backers, said he was “bitterly disappointed”. Ms Leadsom had the backing of 84 Tory MPs – 25% of the total. Michael Gove, who was in third place, got just 46 - or 14%. Ms May had the backing of 199 MPs.

Ms May, meanwhile, had just finished a speech in Birmingham where she declared that “Brexit means Brexit” and that there will be no attempts to stay within the European Union, as the Home Secretary set out her campaign to be prime minister.