Theresa May to stand down and hand over to new prime minister on 24 July

The timing of the PM's departure means her successor may not have to face the Commons until September

Andrew Woodcock
Political Editor
Tuesday 25 June 2019 17:09 BST
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Theresa May's full speech as she announces her resignation

Theresa May will step down as prime minister and hand over to her successor on the afternoon of Wednesday 24 July, Downing Street has said.

The timing of her departure means that she will take the final session of prime minister’s questions before the House of Commons breaks up for the summer the following day, and her successor may not have to appear before MPs until September.

MPs have raised concerns that the arrangements will allow the new PM – widely expected to be Boris Johnson – to evade scrutiny for six weeks at a crucial moment for the Brexit process.

Independent MP Sarah Wollaston described the situation on Monday as “extremely grave” and urged Speaker John Bercow to “make sure that the next prime minister can be held to account by this House without there being an extended period of summer recess in the way”.

But Commons leader Mel Stride tried to reassure MPs that it was “not the government’s intention” for the new PM to avoid them until the autumn and said they would doubtlessly force an appearance if necessary.

Labour is threatening a vote of no-confidence in whoever is chosen as Tory leader, which could come as early as the new PM’s first full day in office on the Thursday.

But Jeremy Corbyn may opt to keep his powder dry until the autumn, when the chances of success would be greater with the possibility of a looming no-deal Brexit on 31 October. In this case, there would be no formal requirement for the PM to appear before the Commons before the start of the summer recess.

The new Conservative leader is due to be announced on 23 July, following the counting of postal ballots in a contest in which Mr Johnson and foreign secretary Jeremy Hunt are vying for the votes of around 160,000 party members.

(AFP/Getty)

But the victor will have to wait another day to be invited by the Queen to form a government in a ceremony at Buckingham Palace known as “kissing hands” – though no hands will be kissed.

Ms May’s official spokesman told reporters: “We would expect the transition to the new prime minister to take place on Wednesday afternoon.”

After her swansong session of PMQs, it is expected that Ms May will be driven from 10 Downing Street to Buckingham Palace to inform the Queen of her decision to stand down.

Once she has left the Palace, the new Conservative leader will be invited in to see the Queen, returning to Number 10 as PM.

The timing of Ms May’s departure means she will pass her third anniversary in office on 13 July and will leapfrog Neville Chamberlain to become the 33rd longest-serving PM on three years and 11 days.

There is a precedent for the delayed handover of power from 2007, when Gordon Brown was declared Labour leader three days before becoming prime minister, so Tony Blair could enjoy a valedictory last Commons appearance at which he won a virtually unprecedented standing ovation.

In as statement, the Conservative Party confirmed 15 more leadership hustings over the next four weeks, along with a “digital hustings” to be livestreamed on its Facebook and Twitter accounts.

The statement said: “Conservative Party members should receive postal ballots between 6 and 8 July. This ballot will close at 5 pm. on Monday 22 July.

“The announcement of the next leader of the Conservative Party will be made on Tuesday 23 July. This process has been agreed with both candidates.”

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