10:26

Theresa May’s almost-certain early arrival in Number 10 is bound to trigger calls for the UK to speed up its EU departure.

During the campaign, the home secretary said the formal process for leaving the EU should not begin until the British negotiating strategy was agreed. This meant, she said, the UK would not trigger article 50 before the end of this year.

Even before Andrea Leadsom dropped out of the race, that timetable was already too slow for the rest of Europe. European leaders are looking for the UK to trigger article 50 in the autumn, although the EU has no good legal way to force the issue.

But other EU leaders are likely to welcome the fact that May is a known quantity. As home secretary, she has been a regular and active attendee at EU justice and home affairs councils. Observers who have seen her in action say she is respected and well-informed. “She did not read from her papers,” said one source. “You could see she knows the dossier and is well-briefed.”

The British home secretary is known for taking tough positions on security issues and was a champion of the long-disputed passenger-name records database.

In contrast, Leadsom was unknown in Brussels, until she made her ill-fated bid to become prime minister. But some EU leaders would have approved of the fact she wanted to trigger article 50 immediately, giving away the UK’s strongest negotiating card at a stroke.

European politicians promised to work with whoever is the next British prime minister. “We look forward to working with whomever comes out of this democratic process,” said Jeroen Dijsselbloem, the Dutch finance minister, who chairs the eurogroup.

Behind the scenes, EU leaders may be glad they are dealing with a more experienced politician. Britain’s next prime minister is seen by some European papers as more in the mould of the German chancellor, rather than the populist American presidential candidate that her Tory rivals are seen as emulating. “If there is Donald Trump in Boris Johnson, there is Angela Merkel in Theresa May,” was Le Monde’s verdict.

But May will be under pressure to come up with a Brexit plan fast, not least as the rest of the EU will evolve without the UK.

Hours before Leadsom dropped out of the race, François Hollande announced a mini-tour of Europe next week, to give “new impetus to a Europe of 27”, i.e. the remaining member states excluding the UK. The French president will meet leaders in Portugal, Austria, the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Ireland on 19-21 July, following earlier meetings with the Angela Merkel and Matteo Renzi.

The sudden end to the leadership campaign means Britain’s next prime minister is likely to be under more pressure from the rest of the EU to act soon.