May becomes the latest Conservative prime minister to be brought down by Europe

Theresa May has become the latest Conservative prime minister to be brought down by party divisions on Europe. Speaking outside 10 Downing Street, the Prime Minister gave a statement in which she confirmed that she will step down on June 7 to pave the way for a leadership contest to find her successor the following week. She admitted that her Brexit strategy had failed – having tried to pass her deal three times – and said this was something she deeply regretted. However, she suggested that she did not regret her approach – stating that ‘compromise is not a dirty word’. At the end of the speech, May had a rare show of emotion as she declared that it had been an honour to ‘serve the country I love’:

‘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.’