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Theresa May has indicated she will fight the next general election as she insisted: “I’m not a quitter.”

Rumours had been mounting the Prime Minister was preparing to step down the day before Brexit officially happens in 2019.

But during a visit to Japan – where she met Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and enjoyed a menu of specialities including sea urchin and sushi – Mrs May set out her plan to lead the Conservatives into the next election.

Asked if she intends to fight the next UK vote, she said: “Yes. There's been an awful lot of speculation about my future which has no basis in it whatsoever.

"I'm in this for the long term. There's a real job to be done in the United Kingdom. It's about getting the Brexit deal right, it's about building that deep and special partnership with the European Union, but it's also about building global Britain, trading around the world.

"Yes, dealing with injustices that remain inside the United Kingdom, but also going out around the world ensuring that we can do those trade deals which bring prosperity to our economy and bring jobs to the United Kingdom."

Pressed on whether she would step down before the next election, expected in 2022, she replied: “I'm not a quitter."

June’s vote was disastrous for Mrs May, who reduced the Conservative majority in Parliament.

Since Parliament has been in recess, this summer has seen suggestions that backbencher Jacob Rees-Mogg may be placed to take the helm.

'Special relationship': Donald Trump and Theresa May hold hands 13 show all 'Special relationship': Donald Trump and Theresa May hold hands 1/13 US President Donald J. Trump holds hands with British Prime Minister Theresa May EPA 2/13 US President Donald J. Trump holds hands with British Prime Minister Theresa May EPA 3/13 US President Donald J. Trump holds hands with British Prime Minister Theresa May EPA 4/13 US President Donald J. Trump holds hands with British Prime Minister Theresa May AP 5/13 Prime Minister Theresa May and US President Donald Trump walk along the White House Colonnade PA 6/13 British Prime Minister Theresa May laughs during a news conference with President Donald Trump AP 7/13 Prime Minister Theresa May meeting US President Donald Trump in the Oval Office PA 8/13 President Donald Trump reaches out to shake hands with British Prime Minister Theresa May AP 9/13 Prime Minister Theresa May with US President Donald Trump during their joint press conference PA 10/13 Prime Minister Theresa May meeting US President Donald Trump in the Oval Office of the White House PA 11/13 Prime Minister Theresa May meeting US President Donald Trump by a bust of Sir Winston Churchill in the Oval Office PA 12/13 Prime Minister Theresa May meeting US President Donald Trump in the Oval Office of the White House PA 13/13 White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer posted this photo on Twitter. PA 1/13 US President Donald J. Trump holds hands with British Prime Minister Theresa May EPA 2/13 US President Donald J. Trump holds hands with British Prime Minister Theresa May EPA 3/13 US President Donald J. Trump holds hands with British Prime Minister Theresa May EPA 4/13 US President Donald J. Trump holds hands with British Prime Minister Theresa May AP 5/13 Prime Minister Theresa May and US President Donald Trump walk along the White House Colonnade PA 6/13 British Prime Minister Theresa May laughs during a news conference with President Donald Trump AP 7/13 Prime Minister Theresa May meeting US President Donald Trump in the Oval Office PA 8/13 President Donald Trump reaches out to shake hands with British Prime Minister Theresa May AP 9/13 Prime Minister Theresa May with US President Donald Trump during their joint press conference PA 10/13 Prime Minister Theresa May meeting US President Donald Trump in the Oval Office of the White House PA 11/13 Prime Minister Theresa May meeting US President Donald Trump by a bust of Sir Winston Churchill in the Oval Office PA 12/13 Prime Minister Theresa May meeting US President Donald Trump in the Oval Office of the White House PA 13/13 White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer posted this photo on Twitter. PA

But Mrs May said she was "here for the long term and it's crucial, what me and my Government are about is not just delivering on Brexit, we are delivering a brighter future for the United Kingdom".

David Cameron famously insisted to voters he would remain as leader if he lost the EU referendum, but quit weeks later after the 2016 vote.

After visiting Japan’s ancient capital Kyoto, the PM will spend Thursday in Tokyo for a series of meetings and visits, including attending the Japanese National Security Council, the first European leader to do so.

She will also visit the headquarters of the Japanese maritime self-defence force, where the flagship aircraft carrier Izumo is based, and will be briefed by UK and Japanese personnel on board.