London: UK Prime Minister Theresa May has announced her much expected resignation, saying she will "surely leave the job" on June 7, paving way for a new premier.
In her brief emotional speech outside Downing Street, May said: "I will surely leave the job. it's 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 gratitute to have had the opportunity to serve the country I love".
"I believe it was right to persevere even when the odds against success were high. But it is now clear to me that it is in the best interest of the country for a new Prime Minister to lead that effort, " she added.
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May, who has come under increased pressure from her own party to announce her departure date amid internal schisms over her handling of Brexit, gave a speech outside Downing Street after meeting with her government's Chief Whip Julian Smith, the lawmaker in charge of trying to keep party unity in Parliament.
"So I am today announcing that I will resign as leader of the Conservative and Unionist Party on 7th of June, so that a successor can be chosen, I've agreed... that the process for electing a new leader should begin in the following week.
"It is and will always remain a matter of deep regret to me that I have not been able to deliver Brexit. It will be for my successor to seek a way forward that honours the referendum. To lead, he or she will have to find consensus in parliament where I have not."
May's Brexit withdrawal bill has been rejected three times in the House of Commons.
May took over from David Cameron when he resigned the day after the Brexit referendum in June 2016.
A number of May's Cabinet members and colleagues praised her following the development.
Amber Rudd, who has served as May's Home Secretary and Work and Pensions Secretary, said she had shown "great courage".
Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt called her a "true public servant".
