May and Leadsom make shortlist to become UK’s next Prime Minister

Whether May or Leadsom wins the final vote in September, it is now confirmed that the next prime minister will be a woman-the first since Margaret Thatcher and the Parliament’s second female leader in its history.

The MPs, in their second round of voting in the party leadership contest, eliminated Justice Secretary and former Leave campaigner Michael Gove when they voted today.

Now there are only two, with the 150,000 members of the Conservative Party set to choose between the remaining candidates, who will campaign for their votes over the summer.

“I’ve won votes from Conservatives MPs across the party – from left and right, from Leavers and Remainers, MPs from the length and breadth of the country”. The current Prime Minister David Cameron’s resignation triggered the leadership race after the European referendum vote was announced.

May and Leadsom will now begin their campaigns to convince the wider Conservative party membership around the country for a final round of voting with the victor set to be declared on September 9.

May campaigned for the “remain” vote in the referendum, whereas Leadsom backed a British exit, or “Brexit”, from EU.

The reporter asked him: “Who are you going to be backing in the race now?” but Mr Gove didn’t break pace as he continued his run to his front gate.

Since the start of the Tory Leadership market, Theresa May has been the firm favourite to replace David Cameron as next UK Prime Minister.

Leadsom’s plainspoken, common-sense style and strong opposition to the European Union have made her popular with the party’s grassroots membership, which is older and more euroskeptic than the British average.

“She is now well placed to win and replace the absurd gloom in some quarters with a positive, confident and optimistic approach, not just to Europe, but to government all round”, he said.

Leadsom lacks cabinet experience but played an impressive role in campaigning for a Brexit prior to the public voting for it on June 23.

Mr Gove said: ‘I’m naturally disappointed that I haven’t been able to make it through to the final round of this leadership contest’.

The result confirms that excepting unforeseen circumstance, the next Prime Minister of the United Kingdom will be a woman.