LONDON – Britain’s embattled leader Theresa May resigned her premiership Friday, although she will stay on as caretaker prime minister for now, amid a barrage of criticism and mounting pressure over her failed efforts to steer the nation out of the European Union in a manner acceptable to increasingly rebellious lawmakers.
May, 62, lasted three years in office.
Her last official day as prime minister will be June 7, after which her Conservative Party will start a process to replace her that could take several weeks or more. She will play a caretaker role until the new leader is chosen. Britain elects a party, not a candidate, meaning that there will be no immediate change to the party that is in power.
It’s been “the honor of my life” to be the “second female prime minister, but certainly not the last,” May said in a statement, delivered from 10 Downing Street, her official office and residence in central London. Her voice cracked with emotion as she spoke.
“It is, and will always remain, a matter of deep regret to me that I have not been able to deliver Brexit,” she said, struggling to complete her brief address.