Theresa May to become Britain's second woman PM tomorrow

London: Britain's Conservative politician Andrea Leadsom has pulled out of the contest for becoming the next Tory party leader and prime minister, leaving only Home Secretary Theresa May, who will take over as new Prime Minister on Wednesday.

Theresa May and Andrea Leadsom. Pics/AFP

"The interests of our country are best served from the immediate appointment of a strong and well-supported Prime Minister. I am therefore withdrawing from the leadership election and I wish Theresa May the very greatest success. I assure her of my full support," Leadsom said.

Leadsom was up against Home Secretary Theresa May in the race to succeed David Cameron as the Prime Minister, and apologised to May on Monday after suggesting that being a mother made her (May) a better candidate for the job.

Theresa May will take over as new Prime Minister on Wednesday, British Premier David Cameron said yesterday while adding that he will chair his last Cabinet meeting today.

"I am delighted Theresa May will be Prime Minister. She has the overwhelming support of the Conservative parliamentary party...she is strong, she is competent, she is more than able to provide the leadership that our country is going to need in the years ahead," said Cameron, who had announced he would be stepping down for a new prime minister to take the Brexit negotiations forward with the European Union a day after the June 23 vote.

May, who would become Britain's second female PM after Margaret Thatcher, made a statement outside the Houses of Parliament here soon after saying she is "honoured and humbled" to be chosen as leader of the Tory party. She paid tribute to Cameron for his "leadership" and other Tory party leadership contenders.

The Prime Minister designate said she wants the "best deal for Britain" with EU.