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The Prime Minister, who tearfully announced this morning that she would step down on the 7 June, will trigger a leadership contest in which many have already announced their candidacy. Tory MP Ken Clarke told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “The European Research Group have finally got their woman. They’ve been trying to get rid of her for the last two or three months.

“They seem to imagine the party will now unite behind the one of them that most resembles Nigel Farage.” The current favourite to replace Mrs May is Boris Johnson, although Mr Clarke commented: “I think the idea that he’s a shoe-in is nonsense. “We are going to have a chaotic six weeks now as a diversion, possibly harmful diversion, from the deadlock on the EU. “All kinds of things could happen - the favourite doesn’t usually win, that is the person expected to win hasn’t won one of these things for a very long time as far as I can recall.

Brexit news: Ken Clarke said the Tories would look for someone who resembled Nigel Farage

“We’ve got to make sure the whole thing is conducted in an atmosphere that doesn’t add to the air of tragic farce that has already been surrounding the party and the European issue for the past 12 months.” Union leaders offered little sympathy over the Prime Minister's resignation. Tim Roache, GMB general secretary, said: "This Government has given us more farcical scenes than The Thick Of It, and more brutal beheadings than Game Of Thrones. "No-one is going to be sorry when this series ends. "Working people are sick of the Tories focusing on who is going to take Theresa May's job when thousands across the country are losing theirs. "We cannot let Britain's workers, industries and communities become the casualties of the next round of Tory internal wars. "Let's have a general election and let the people decide."