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A tearful Theresa May bowed to the inevitable today and quit as Prime Minister.

Her voice breaking with emotion, Mrs May said: “I will shortly leave the job that it has been the honour of my life to hold.

“The second female prime minister, but certainly not the last. I do so with no ill will, but with enormous and enduring gratitude to have had the opportunity to serve the country I love.”

Standing in Downing Street, Mrs May announced she will resign formally as Tory leader on June 7 and leave as Prime Minister when her successor is chosen, probably in mid to late July.

In a key message to her successor who will shortly have to grapple with Brexit, she quoted Sir Nicholas Winton, organiser of the kindertransport at the outbreak of World War II, who once told her: “Compromise is not a dirty word.”

Her short valedictory was watched by husband Philip standing with close aides, but there was no embrace for the cameras at the end. Mrs May simply turned around and walked back into 10 Downing Street.

Half an hour later, the couple were driven home to Sonning, Berkshire, while Tory contenders for the leadership stepped up their campaigns.

Hours after she resigned, Boris Johnson said at an economic conference in Switzerland: "We will leave the EU on October 31, deal or no deal... The way to get a good deal is to prepare for a no deal. To get things done you need to be prepared to walk away."

Mrs May’s statement followed a meeting with Sir Graham Brady, chairman of the 1922 Committee of backbenchers, who carried a message from Tory MPs that her time was up.

At 9.45am, officials carried out broadcasting equipment and a lectern and set them up outside the black front door of No 10.

Just after 10am, Mr May walked outside and stood attentively just out of camera view, along with chief of staff Gavin Barwell.

Mrs May said she had done “everything I can” to deliver Brexit but could not gain the necessary support. It was, she said, now in the “best interests of the country for a new prime minister to lead that effort”.

“So I am today announcing that I will resign as leader of the Conservative and Unionist Party on Friday 7th June so that a successor can be chosen,” she said.

But she warned that her successor, who could be a Brexiteer such as Boris Johnson, must build a consensus in Parliament.

Recalling the words of Sir Nicholas, hailed as “Britain’s Schindler” after saving hundreds of children from Nazi tyranny, she said: “At another time of political controversy, a few years before his death, he took me to one side at a local event and gave me a piece of advice.

“He said: ‘Never forget that compromise is not a dirty word. Life depends on compromise.’ He was right.”

On the impasse in Parliament, she said: “It is and will always remain a matter of deep regret that I have not been able to deliver Brexit.

“It will be for my successor to seek a way forward that honours the result of the referendum.

“To succeed, he or she will have to find consensus in Parliament where I have not.”

Mrs May spoke of her unfinished mission to solve “burning injustices” and said: “I have striven to make the UK a country that works not just for a privileged few but for everyone and to honour the result of the EU referendum.”

Injecting a positive note, she stressed: “Our politics may be under strain but there is so much that is good about this country. So much to be proud of. So much to be optimistic about.”

Mrs May portrayed her departure as her own decision, taken in consultation with colleagues.

But the brutal political reality was spelled out by one of Whitehall’s veterans. Former Cabinet secretary Lord O’Donnell told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “Let’s be clear about what’s happening here. The 1922 Committee are coming in with a revolver and basically pointing it at her head.

“[Sir Graham] will leave the room, possibly leave the revolver in there. So she will then, I think, say, ‘It makes sense for me to take hold of this process, announce my resignation’.”

Jacob Rees-Mogg, who is backing Mr Johnson to be the next Tory leader, paid tribute to Mrs May’s “dutiful and patriotic” nature, but said she should have gone earlier.

“I do not want to be mean,” said the European Research Group chairman who led a failed attempt to pass a no-confidence vote in December. “I wouldn’t have put my name to a vote of no confidence in December if I thought she should not have gone in December.”

Theresa May - In pictures 74 show all Theresa May - In pictures 1/74 24th May 2019 Theresa May announces her resignation Reuters 2/74 22nd May 2019 Theresa May reacts during Prime Minister's Questions in the House of Commons Sky News 3/74 21st May 2019 Prime Minister Theresa May arrives at PricewaterhouseCoopers ahead of her speech on a new Brexit deal Getty Images 4/74 2nd May 2019 Theresa May arrives to cast her vote a polling station near her home in her Maidenhead constituency as voters headed to the polls for council and mayoral elections across England and Northern Ireland PA 5/74 19th April 2019 Theresa May acts as a marshal during the Maidenhead Easter 10 race in Maidenhead PA 6/74 24th March 2019 Theresa May and her husband Philip May leave following a church service on March 24, 2019 in Aylesbury Getty Images 7/74 20th March 2019 Prime Minister Theresa May addresses the nation after asking the European Union for a Brexit extension EPA 8/74 14th March 2019 Theresa May reacting on the front bench in the House of Commons during the proceedings in which British MPs voted to ask the European Union to delay Brexit AFP/Getty Images 9/74 16th January 2019 Theresa May addresses the media at number 10 Downing street after her government defeated a vote of no confidence in the House of Commons Getty Images 10/74 16th January 2019 Theresa May leaves Downing Street to face a vote of no confidence in the House of Commons Getty Images 11/74 14th December 2018 Theresa May challenges European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker for suggesting that her message on Brexit had been "nebulous" ec.europa.eu via PA 12/74 13th December 2018 Theresa May is seen behind EU flags as she arrives at the European Council for the start of the two day EU summit in Brussels, Belgium Getty Images 13/74 3rd October 2018 A composite picture of Prime Minister Theresa May dancing as she arrives on stage to make her keynote speech at the Conservative Party annual conference at the International Convention Centre, Birmingham PA 14/74 20th September 2018 Prime Minister Theresa May arrives for a 'family photo' during the European Union leaders informal summit in Salzburg, Austria Reuters 15/74 13th July 2018 Theresa May and U.S. President Donald Trump walk to a joint news conference at Chequers Hannah McKay/Reuters 16/74 12th July 2018 US President Donald Trump takes the hand of Prime Minister Theresa May as they enter Blenheim Palace in Oxfordshire PA 17/74 22nd November 2017 Theresa May on Budget Day Jeremy Selwyn 18/74 3rd November 2017 The finishing touches are made to the new wax figure of Prime Minister Theresa May by Rosie Tipler /PA 19/74 20th October 2017 Theresa May attending a bilateral meeting, on the second day of the European Council in Brussels, Belgium EPA 20/74 26th September 2017 Theresa May welcomes the President of the European Council Donald Tusk, ahead of a meeting in Downing Street EPA 21/74 20th September 2017 Prime Minister Theresa May meets US President Donald Trump for talks at the Lotte Palace Hotel, New York PA 22/74 10th August 2017 Madame Tussauds London commissions a new wax figure of Theresa May Madame Tussauds 23/74 8th July 2017 Prime Minister Theresa May talks with U.S. President Donald Trump during the G20 leaders summit in Hamburg, Germany Reuters 24/74 15th June 2017 Prime Minister Theresa May speaks to members of the fire service as she visits Grenfell Tower. 25/74 4th October 2017 Lee Nelson AKA Simon Brodkin hands a 'P45' to Prime Minister Theresa May ,as she was delivering her speech on the final day of the Conservative Party annual conference at the Manchester Central Convention Centre in Manchester AFP/Getty Images 26/74 4th October 2017 Letter fall off the backboard during Theresa May's speech on the final day of the Conservative Party annual conference at the Manchester Central Convention Centre in Manchester 27/74 4th October 2017 Theresa May coughing during her speech on the final day of the Conservative Party annual conference at the Manchester Central Convention Centre Daily Mail 28/74 4th October 2017 Theresa May coughing during her speech on the final day of the Conservative Party annual conference at the Manchester Central Convention Centre Reuters 29/74 4th October 2017 Theresa May drinks a glass of water during her keynote speech Daily Mail 30/74 31st July 2017 Theresa May arrives at the Commonwealth War Graves Commisions's Tyne Cot Cemetery ahead of a ceremony on July 31, 2017 in Ypres, Belgium Getty Images 31/74 25th July 2017 Theresa May and her husband Philip visit Desenzano del Garda, near Lake Garda, Italy, last month PA 32/74 17th July 2017 Prime Minister Theresa May holding a cabinet meeting PA 33/74 10th July 2017 Australian Prime Minister, Malcolm Turnbull, walks with Prime Minister Theresa May and Metropolitan Police Commissioner Cressida Dick, as they arrive to speak to first responders from the emergency services outside Southwark Cathedral during a visit to the Borough Market area in central London AP 34/74 21st June 2017 PM Theresa May and Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn walking back after listening to Queen's Speech AFP/Getty Images 35/74 9th June 2017 Theresa May addressing press at Downing Street after seeing the Queen Jeremy Selwyn 36/74 9th June 2017 Prime Minister Theresa May is applauded into 10 Downing Street in by staff after seeing The Queen, where she asked to form a new government PA 37/74 9th June 2017 Prime Minister Theresa May and husband Philip leave Downing Street to travel to Buckingham Palace for an audience with Queen Elizabeth II after the General Election which lost the Tory majority PA 38/74 8th June 2017 Theresa May visits the Dhamecha Lohana Centre in Harrow Jeremy Selwyn 39/74 7th June 2017 Prime Minister Theresa May on a visit to Smithfield Market in the City of London on the final day of campaigning for the General Election PA 40/74 22nd May 2017 Theresa May gestures as she answers a media question regarding social care policy during a launch event for the Welsh Conservative general election manifesto in Wrexham, North Wales AFP/Getty Images 41/74 18th May 2017 Pegasus Street Art: Theresa May 'Dressed to Kill' Pegasus 42/74 2nd May 2017 Prime Minister Theresa May having some chips while on a walkabout during a election campaign stop in Mevagissey, Cornwall PA 43/74 19th April 2017 Prime Minister Theresa May makes a statement to the nation in Downing Street Getty Images 44/74 28th March 2017 Prime Minister Theresa May in the cabinet office signs the official letter to European Council President Donald Tusk invoking Article 50 and the United Kingdom's intention to leave the EU Getty Images 45/74 27th January 2017 US President Donald Trump holds hands with Prime Minister Teresa May as they walk the colonnade of the White House in Washington, DC EPA 46/74 5th October 2016 Theresa May and husband Philip after her speech at the Conservative Party Conference, Birmingham Jeremy Selwyn 47/74 20th July 2016 Theresa May was known for her shoes Getty Images 48/74 12th August 2016 Theresa May walks with her husband Philip John May while on summer holiday in the Alps of Switzerland Getty Images 49/74 13th July 2016 Theresa May speaks outside 10 Downing Street after becoming Prime Minister Getty Images 50/74 13th July 2016 The Queen welcomes Theresa May at the start of an audience where she invited the former Home Secretary to become Prime Minister and form a new government at Buckingham Palace Getty Images 51/74 12th July 2016 Prime Minister-in-waiting, Theresa May, reacts to photographers after walking to the wrong car after attending a Cabinet meeting at Downing Stree Getty Images 52/74 11th July 2016 New Conservative Party leader Theresa May speaks to members of the media with her MPs behind her at The St Stephen's entrance to the Palace of Westminster AFP/Getty Images 53/74 29th June 2015 German Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere (L), Tunisia's Interior Minister Mohamed Gharsalli and British Home Secretary Theresa May look on after laying flowers at the scene where 38 people were killed on Marhaba beach Getty Images 54/74 3rd March 2015 Home Secretary Theresa May (2nd R) stands with Prime Minister David Cameron (L) and Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg (2nd L) before the arrival of the President of Mexico, Enrique Pena Nieto and his wife Angelica Rivera at Horse Guards Parade Getty Images 55/74 5th November 2013 British Home Secretary Theresa May attends a ceremonial welcome for visiting President of South Korea, Park Geun-Hye (not pictured) at Horseguards Parade on November 5, 2013 Getty Images 56/74 17th April 2013 Home Secretary Theresa May and husband Philip May arrive for the Ceremonial funeral of former British Prime Minister Baroness Thatcher Getty Images 57/74 20th July 2012 British Home Secretary Theresa May reacts during an interview as she views the Olympics Security control room in the Olympic Park in east London, on July 20, 2012 AFP/Getty Images 58/74 20th February 2012 Theresa May on the front row at the Osman Show during London Fashion Week Autumn/Winter 2012 at Somerset House Getty Images 59/74 31st January 2012 Home Secretary Theresa May stopping as the heal of her shoe gets stuck in a gap in the pavement as she arrives at number 10 Downing Street to attend the weekly meeting of the Cabinet AFP/Getty Images 60/74 12th September 2011 Bernard Hogan-Howe (C), the new Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police, poses for photographs with British Home Secretary Teresa May (L) and Mayor of London Boris Johnson (R) outside New Scotland Yard AFP/Getty Images 61/74 11th September 2011 Home Secretary Theresa May arrives to attend a memorial service at St Paul's Cathedral in London on September 11, 2011 to commemorate the tenth anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks AFP/Getty Images 62/74 23rd March 2011 Home Secretary Theresa May leaves Parliament after Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne delivered his budget on March 23, 2011 Getty Images 63/74 10th December 2010 Home Secretary Theresa May leaves a cabinet meeting in Downing Street Getty Images 64/74 18th October 2010 Home Secretary Theresa May arrives in Downing Street for a Cabinet meeting Getty Images 65/74 13th May 2010 Transport Secretary Philip Hammond and Home Secretary Theresa May arrive at 10 Downing Street for the first Cabinet meeting of the new coalition government Getty Images 66/74 6th October 2009 Conservative leader David Cameron (R) and Shadow Secretary of State for Work and Pensions Theresa May (L) walk through the rain on the second day of the Conservative Party Conference Getty Images 67/74 20th May 2009 Theresa May, Shadow Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, arrives for the Asian Women of Achievement Awards at Hilton Park Lane Hotel Getty Images 68/74 30th September 2007 Conservative shadow leader of the House of Commons Theresa May addresses delegates during the 124th annual Conservative Party Conference at the Winter Gardens in Blackpool - wearing wellys Getty Images 69/74 8th November 2007 Theresa May arrives at the Woman Of The Future Awards at the Grosvenor Marriott Square Hotel Getty Images 70/74 8th February 2006 Theresa May attends the Conservative Party Black & White Ball at Old Billingsgate Market Getty Images 71/74 13th December 2005 Leader of the Conservative Party David Cameron (front) and his shadow cabinet Getty Images 72/74 6th October 2003 Theresa May, the Conservative Party Chairman, concludes her opening speech at the annual Conservative Party conference in Blackpool Getty Images 73/74 23rd August 2002 The Conservative leader Iain Duncan Smith announces the party's new Chairman Theresa May PA 74/74 15th June 1999 Conservative MP Theresa May leaves Conservative Central Office in London, after being appointed shadow Education and Employment secretary PA 1/74 24th May 2019 Theresa May announces her resignation Reuters 2/74 22nd May 2019 Theresa May reacts during Prime Minister's Questions in the House of Commons Sky News 3/74 21st May 2019 Prime Minister Theresa May arrives at PricewaterhouseCoopers ahead of her speech on a new Brexit deal Getty Images 4/74 2nd May 2019 Theresa May arrives to cast her vote a polling station near her home in her Maidenhead constituency as voters headed to the polls for council and mayoral elections across England and Northern Ireland PA 5/74 19th April 2019 Theresa May acts as a marshal during the Maidenhead Easter 10 race in Maidenhead PA 6/74 24th March 2019 Theresa May and her husband Philip May leave following a church service on March 24, 2019 in Aylesbury Getty Images 7/74 20th March 2019 Prime Minister Theresa May addresses the nation after asking the European Union for a Brexit extension EPA 8/74 14th March 2019 Theresa May reacting on the front bench in the House of Commons during the proceedings in which British MPs voted to ask the European Union to delay Brexit AFP/Getty Images 9/74 16th January 2019 Theresa May addresses the media at number 10 Downing street after her government defeated a vote of no confidence in the House of Commons Getty Images 10/74 16th January 2019 Theresa May leaves Downing Street to face a vote of no confidence in the House of Commons Getty Images 11/74 14th December 2018 Theresa May challenges European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker for suggesting that her message on Brexit had been "nebulous" ec.europa.eu via PA 12/74 13th December 2018 Theresa May is seen behind EU flags as she arrives at the European Council for the start of the two day EU summit in Brussels, Belgium Getty Images 13/74 3rd October 2018 A composite picture of Prime Minister Theresa May dancing as she arrives on stage to make her keynote speech at the Conservative Party annual conference at the International Convention Centre, Birmingham PA 14/74 20th September 2018 Prime Minister Theresa May arrives for a 'family photo' during the European Union leaders informal summit in Salzburg, Austria Reuters 15/74 13th July 2018 Theresa May and U.S. President Donald Trump walk to a joint news conference at Chequers Hannah McKay/Reuters 16/74 12th July 2018 US President Donald Trump takes the hand of Prime Minister Theresa May as they enter Blenheim Palace in Oxfordshire PA 17/74 22nd November 2017 Theresa May on Budget Day Jeremy Selwyn 18/74 3rd November 2017 The finishing touches are made to the new wax figure of Prime Minister Theresa May by Rosie Tipler /PA 19/74 20th October 2017 Theresa May attending a bilateral meeting, on the second day of the European Council in Brussels, Belgium EPA 20/74 26th September 2017 Theresa May welcomes the President of the European Council Donald Tusk, ahead of a meeting in Downing Street EPA 21/74 20th September 2017 Prime Minister Theresa May meets US President Donald Trump for talks at the Lotte Palace Hotel, New York PA 22/74 10th August 2017 Madame Tussauds London commissions a new wax figure of Theresa May Madame Tussauds 23/74 8th July 2017 Prime Minister Theresa May talks with U.S. President Donald Trump during the G20 leaders summit in Hamburg, Germany Reuters 24/74 15th June 2017 Prime Minister Theresa May speaks to members of the fire service as she visits Grenfell Tower. 25/74 4th October 2017 Lee Nelson AKA Simon Brodkin hands a 'P45' to Prime Minister Theresa May ,as she was delivering her speech on the final day of the Conservative Party annual conference at the Manchester Central Convention Centre in Manchester AFP/Getty Images 26/74 4th October 2017 Letter fall off the backboard during Theresa May's speech on the final day of the Conservative Party annual conference at the Manchester Central Convention Centre in Manchester 27/74 4th October 2017 Theresa May coughing during her speech on the final day of the Conservative Party annual conference at the Manchester Central Convention Centre Daily Mail 28/74 4th October 2017 Theresa May coughing during her speech on the final day of the Conservative Party annual conference at the Manchester Central Convention Centre Reuters 29/74 4th October 2017 Theresa May drinks a glass of water during her keynote speech Daily Mail 30/74 31st July 2017 Theresa May arrives at the Commonwealth War Graves Commisions's Tyne Cot Cemetery ahead of a ceremony on July 31, 2017 in Ypres, Belgium Getty Images 31/74 25th July 2017 Theresa May and her husband Philip visit Desenzano del Garda, near Lake Garda, Italy, last month PA 32/74 17th July 2017 Prime Minister Theresa May holding a cabinet meeting PA 33/74 10th July 2017 Australian Prime Minister, Malcolm Turnbull, walks with Prime Minister Theresa May and Metropolitan Police Commissioner Cressida Dick, as they arrive to speak to first responders from the emergency services outside Southwark Cathedral during a visit to the Borough Market area in central London AP 34/74 21st June 2017 PM Theresa May and Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn walking back after listening to Queen's Speech AFP/Getty Images 35/74 9th June 2017 Theresa May addressing press at Downing Street after seeing the Queen Jeremy Selwyn 36/74 9th June 2017 Prime Minister Theresa May is applauded into 10 Downing Street in by staff after seeing The Queen, where she asked to form a new government PA 37/74 9th June 2017 Prime Minister Theresa May and husband Philip leave Downing Street to travel to Buckingham Palace for an audience with Queen Elizabeth II after the General Election which lost the Tory majority PA 38/74 8th June 2017 Theresa May visits the Dhamecha Lohana Centre in Harrow Jeremy Selwyn 39/74 7th June 2017 Prime Minister Theresa May on a visit to Smithfield Market in the City of London on the final day of campaigning for the General Election PA 40/74 22nd May 2017 Theresa May gestures as she answers a media question regarding social care policy during a launch event for the Welsh Conservative general election manifesto in Wrexham, North Wales AFP/Getty Images 41/74 18th May 2017 Pegasus Street Art: Theresa May 'Dressed to Kill' Pegasus 42/74 2nd May 2017 Prime Minister Theresa May having some chips while on a walkabout during a election campaign stop in Mevagissey, Cornwall PA 43/74 19th April 2017 Prime Minister Theresa May makes a statement to the nation in Downing Street Getty Images 44/74 28th March 2017 Prime Minister Theresa May in the cabinet office signs the official letter to European Council President Donald Tusk invoking Article 50 and the United Kingdom's intention to leave the EU Getty Images 45/74 27th January 2017 US President Donald Trump holds hands with Prime Minister Teresa May as they walk the colonnade of the White House in Washington, DC EPA 46/74 5th October 2016 Theresa May and husband Philip after her speech at the Conservative Party Conference, Birmingham Jeremy Selwyn 47/74 20th July 2016 Theresa May was known for her shoes Getty Images 48/74 12th August 2016 Theresa May walks with her husband Philip John May while on summer holiday in the Alps of Switzerland Getty Images 49/74 13th July 2016 Theresa May speaks outside 10 Downing Street after becoming Prime Minister Getty Images 50/74 13th July 2016 The Queen welcomes Theresa May at the start of an audience where she invited the former Home Secretary to become Prime Minister and form a new government at Buckingham Palace Getty Images 51/74 12th July 2016 Prime Minister-in-waiting, Theresa May, reacts to photographers after walking to the wrong car after attending a Cabinet meeting at Downing Stree Getty Images 52/74 11th July 2016 New Conservative Party leader Theresa May speaks to members of the media with her MPs behind her at The St Stephen's entrance to the Palace of Westminster AFP/Getty Images 53/74 29th June 2015 German Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere (L), Tunisia's Interior Minister Mohamed Gharsalli and British Home Secretary Theresa May look on after laying flowers at the scene where 38 people were killed on Marhaba beach Getty Images 54/74 3rd March 2015 Home Secretary Theresa May (2nd R) stands with Prime Minister David Cameron (L) and Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg (2nd L) before the arrival of the President of Mexico, Enrique Pena Nieto and his wife Angelica Rivera at Horse Guards Parade Getty Images 55/74 5th November 2013 British Home Secretary Theresa May attends a ceremonial welcome for visiting President of South Korea, Park Geun-Hye (not pictured) at Horseguards Parade on November 5, 2013 Getty Images 56/74 17th April 2013 Home Secretary Theresa May and husband Philip May arrive for the Ceremonial funeral of former British Prime Minister Baroness Thatcher Getty Images 57/74 20th July 2012 British Home Secretary Theresa May reacts during an interview as she views the Olympics Security control room in the Olympic Park in east London, on July 20, 2012 AFP/Getty Images 58/74 20th February 2012 Theresa May on the front row at the Osman Show during London Fashion Week Autumn/Winter 2012 at Somerset House Getty Images 59/74 31st January 2012 Home Secretary Theresa May stopping as the heal of her shoe gets stuck in a gap in the pavement as she arrives at number 10 Downing Street to attend the weekly meeting of the Cabinet AFP/Getty Images 60/74 12th September 2011 Bernard Hogan-Howe (C), the new Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police, poses for photographs with British Home Secretary Teresa May (L) and Mayor of London Boris Johnson (R) outside New Scotland Yard AFP/Getty Images 61/74 11th September 2011 Home Secretary Theresa May arrives to attend a memorial service at St Paul's Cathedral in London on September 11, 2011 to commemorate the tenth anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks AFP/Getty Images 62/74 23rd March 2011 Home Secretary Theresa May leaves Parliament after Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne delivered his budget on March 23, 2011 Getty Images 63/74 10th December 2010 Home Secretary Theresa May leaves a cabinet meeting in Downing Street Getty Images 64/74 18th October 2010 Home Secretary Theresa May arrives in Downing Street for a Cabinet meeting Getty Images 65/74 13th May 2010 Transport Secretary Philip Hammond and Home Secretary Theresa May arrive at 10 Downing Street for the first Cabinet meeting of the new coalition government Getty Images 66/74 6th October 2009 Conservative leader David Cameron (R) and Shadow Secretary of State for Work and Pensions Theresa May (L) walk through the rain on the second day of the Conservative Party Conference Getty Images 67/74 20th May 2009 Theresa May, Shadow Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, arrives for the Asian Women of Achievement Awards at Hilton Park Lane Hotel Getty Images 68/74 30th September 2007 Conservative shadow leader of the House of Commons Theresa May addresses delegates during the 124th annual Conservative Party Conference at the Winter Gardens in Blackpool - wearing wellys Getty Images 69/74 8th November 2007 Theresa May arrives at the Woman Of The Future Awards at the Grosvenor Marriott Square Hotel Getty Images 70/74 8th February 2006 Theresa May attends the Conservative Party Black & White Ball at Old Billingsgate Market Getty Images 71/74 13th December 2005 Leader of the Conservative Party David Cameron (front) and his shadow cabinet Getty Images 72/74 6th October 2003 Theresa May, the Conservative Party Chairman, concludes her opening speech at the annual Conservative Party conference in Blackpool Getty Images 73/74 23rd August 2002 The Conservative leader Iain Duncan Smith announces the party's new Chairman Theresa May PA 74/74 15th June 1999 Conservative MP Theresa May leaves Conservative Central Office in London, after being appointed shadow Education and Employment secretary PA

Mrs May’s friends rallied to praise the character of a woman who won admiration for her sense of duty and resilience.

Damian Green, her former de facto deputy, told the BBC: “Seldom have we seen a prime minister more devoted to public service and it’s ending this way so I think the overwhelming feeling I have today is sadness.”

MPs jockeying to be Mrs May’s successor universally praised her “dignity” in defeat.

The leadership election was in full flow even as Mrs May was still meeting Sir Graham.

Helen Grant, Conservative vice-chairman for communities, resigned so she would be free to campaign for one of the candidates.

Tory sources said the leadership battle will formally start in the week of June 10, when nominations close, and finish by July 24, when the summer recess begins.

Over the first fortnight, Conservative MPs will stage a series of votes to reduce the field to a shortlist of two. A ballot of members will then pick the winner.

The final pair will take part in up to 12 regional hustings and, probably, a TV debate.

The Tories may allow non-members to quiz leadership candidates for the first time, although they will not get a vote.

Party chairman Brandon Lewis said it was “a solemn responsibility” to select a PM who would represent the nation.

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said Mrs May’s replacement should call an immediate general election.

Additional reporting by James Morris and Olivia Tobin