Tory leadership: Theresa May tops first vote but Fox and Crabb out / Theresa May set to be UK PM after Andrea Leadsom quits

The first round of the contest to choose a new leader of the Conservative Party in the United Kingdom (and thus UK Prime Minister) following the EU Referendum took place on the 5 July 2016.

Theresa May, the existing Home Secretary got 165 of 329 votes cast by Tory MPs. Andrea Leadsom came second with 66 and Michael Gove got 48. Liam Fox was eliminated in fifth place. Stephen Crabb came fourth and dropped out.

Further voting would narrow the field to two. This happened on the 7 July 2016 when Michael Gove was eliminated. The eventual outcome between Theresa May and Andrea Leadsom, decided by Conservative Party members, was due on 9 September 2016.

However, on the 11 July 2016 Andrea Leadsom pulled out of the contest to become Conservative Party leader. David Cameron announced that Theresa May would become Prime Minister on the 13 July 2016.

There was some speculation as to whether Mrs May would at some stage call a general election to give her term of office as Prime Minister legitimacy.

ESO: Background information: Epitaph for a political chancer: Cameron’s fate examplifies the inability of UK elites to resolve long-run crises http://www.europeansources.info/record/epitaph-for-a-political-chancer-camerons-fate-examplifies-the-inability-of-uk-elites-to-resolve-long-run-crises/

ESO: In Focus: Brexit - The United Kingdom and the European Union http://www.europeansources.info/record/brexit-the-united-kingdom-and-the-european-union/

ESO: Background information: The EU Referendum, 23 June 2016. The United Kingdom and the European Union. The results http://www.europeansources.info/record/the-eu-referendum-23-june-2016-the-united-kingdom-and-the-european-union-the-results/

Politico, 05.07.16: Theresa May out in front in Tory leadership race as Fox eliminated, Crabb drops out http://www.politico.eu/article/theresa-may-out-in-front-in-tory-leadership-race-as-liam-fox-eliminated-brexit-uk-prime-minister/

EurActiv, 05.07.16: May wins big in first round of voting to be post-Brexit UK PM http://www.euractiv.com/section/uk-europe/news/may-wins-big-in-first-round-of-voting-to-be-post-brexit-uk-pm/

EUObserver, 06.07.16: Theresa May wins first round of Tory votes https://euobserver.com/uk-referendum/134219

Politico, 07.07.16: Michael Gove crushed as Theresa May, Andrea Leadsom win Tory leadership ballot http://www.politico.eu/article/michael-gove-crushed-as-theresa-may-andrea-leadsom-win-tory-leadership-ballot/

BBC News, 07.07.16: Theresa May v Andrea Leadsom to be next prime minister http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-36737426

The Economist, 07.07.16: Theresa May and Andrea Leadsom vie to become Britain’s next prime minister http://www.economist.com/news/britain/21701860-mrs-may-has-edge-do-not-count-out-her-rival-yet-theresa-may-and-andrea-leadsom-vie

EurActiv, 07.07.16: The two women who want to be the next British prime minister http://www.euractiv.com/section/uk-europe/news/profiled-the-two-women-who-want-to-be-the-next-british-prime-minister/

Euro|Topics: Debates, July 2016: May versus Leadsom http://www.eurotopics.net/en/162232/may-versus-leadsom

BBC News, 11.07.16: Theresa May set to be UK PM after Andrea Leadsom quits http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-36763208

Politico, 11.07.16: Theresa May poised to be next British prime minister http://www.politico.eu/article/andrea-leadsom-to-quit-race-to-be-british-prime-minister-reports/

The Economist, 11.07.16: Theresa May will be Britain’s next prime minister http://www.economist.com/blogs/bagehot/2016/07/last-woman-standing

EUObserver, 11.07.16: Theresa May will be next British PM https://euobserver.com/uk-referendum/134295

EurActiv, 11.07.16: May becomes next British PM on Wednesday, Article 50 issue left hanging http://www.euractiv.com/section/uk-europe/news/may-set-to-become-uk-pm-article-50-issue-left-hanging/

EUObserver, 12.07.16: What Brussels can expect from Theresa May https://euobserver.com/uk-referendum/134307

Euro|Topics: Debates, July 2016: May to lead Britain out of the EU http://www.eurotopics.net/en/162417/may-to-lead-britain-out-of-the-eu

EurActiv, 13.07.16: Stick ‘close to the EU’, Cameron tells May as he hands over power http://www.euractiv.com/section/uk-europe/news/stick-close-to-the-eu-cameron-tells-may-as-he-hands-over-power/

European Council: Press Release, 13.07.16: Letter of congratulation from President Donald Tusk to Theresa May on her appointment as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom http://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2016/07/13-tusk-congratulation-prime-minister-uk-may/

Spiegel Online International, 01.11.16: Ms. Brexit. Theresa May Seeks to Reinvent Britain http://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/theresa-may-brings-tenacity-to-challenge-of-brexit-a-1119020.html

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