• Watch: ‘This can’t go on’

  • ‘We cannot go on like this’

    Like Mr Pursglove, Steve Double – the MP for St Austell and Newquay – has offered his support to Mrs Leadsom.

  • ‘A very honourable and decent stand’

    Mrs Leadsom’s fellow Northamptonshire MP, Tom Pursglove, has signalled “respect and admiration” for his colleague.

  • Andrea Leadsom’s full resignation letter in which she says she doesn’t believe Theresa May’s Brexit approach will “deliver on the referendum result”.

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  • Will we see another resignation before the weekend?

    BBC political correspondent tweets

  • Resignation a ‘slap in the face’ for Tories – Watson

    Copyright: Getty Images

    Labour’s deputy leader Tom Watson has criticised Mrs Leadsom’s decision to step down on the eve of the European elections, calling it a “slap in the face” for her Tory colleagues.

    He tweeted: “I accept that she may want to go but to do it the night before an election looks odd.

    “It’s also a slap in the face to Tory party members who are working hard to get their candidates elected tomorrow.”

  • May’s ‘authority is shot’

    Labour have reacted to Andrea Leadsom’s resignation, saying that it shows Theresa May’s “authority is shot and her time is up”.

    “While the Tories are ripping themselves apart, our country is in crisis,” the party’s chairman, Ian Lavery, said.

    “The government has made a catastrophic mess of the Brexit negotiations, our steel industry is under threat and Universal Credit is pushing people into poverty.

    “For the sake of the country, Theresa May needs to go, and we need an immediate general election.”

  • Who is Andrea Leadsom?

    Copyright: Getty Images

    Andrea Leadsom – Conservative MP for South Northamptonshire – is a prominent Brexiteer who described the 2016 referendum result as “a huge opportunity for our great country”.

    She believes in scrapping free movement and wants free trade negotiations with the rest of the world.

    Mrs Leadsom previously ran for Tory leader but withdrew, clearing the path for Mrs May to become prime minister.

    She was Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs between July 2016 and June 2017, after which she became the leader of the House of Commons.

    As Commons Leader, she was in charge of organising government business.

  • Leadsom’s message to May

    Closing her resignation letter, the former environment secretary paid tribute to the “integrity, resolution and determination” Mrs May has shown as PM.

    She concluded: “No one has wanted you to
    succeed more than I have, but I do now urge you to make the right decisions in
    the interests of the country, this government and our party.”

  • 36th resignation under May

    The BBC’s political editor tweets…

  • Leadsom ‘considered carefully’ the timing of resignation

    Copyright: Reuters

    Explaining her decision to resign on the eve of the European Parliament elections, Mrs Leadsom said: “I know there are important
    elections tomorrow, and many Conservatives have worked hard to support our
    excellent candidates.

    “I considered carefully the timing of this decision, but I
    cannot fulfil my duty as Leader of the House tomorrow, to announce a Bill
    with new elements that I fundamentally oppose.”

  • Leadsom outlines reasons for departure

    In a letter to the PM – posted on Twitter – Mrs Leadsom explained she had chosen to resign because she no longer believed the government’s approach to Brexit “will deliver on the referendum result”.

    Outlining her reasons, she said:

    1. I do not believe that we will be a truly sovereign United Kingdom through the deal that is now proposed.

    2. I have always maintained that a second referendum would be dangerously divisive, and I do not support the government willingly facilitating such a concession. It would risk undermining the Union, which is something I passionately want to see strengthened.

    3. There has been such a breakdown of government processes that recent Brexit-related legislative proposals have not been properly scrutinised or approved by cabinet members.

    4.The tolerance to those in cabinet who have advocated policies contrary to the government’s position has led to a complete breakdown of collective responsibility.

  • BreakingAndrea Leadsom resigns

    Andrea Leadsom, the leader of the House of Commons, has announced her resignation.

  • How has today affected the polls?

    BMG Research has carried out a poll for the Independent news website – taken between 20 May and 22 May – but there has been little movement for the Conservatives, despite a somewhat chaotic couple of days.

  • PM to meet Sir Graham Brady on Friday

    After this afternoon’s 1922 Committee meeting, Sir Graham Brady told reporters: “I will be meeting with the prime minister on Friday following her campaigning in the European elections tomorrow and following that meeting I will be consulting with the 1922 executive.”

    He said the executive discussed “all sorts of things” in the meeting.

  • Euro election ‘helps May cling on’

    BBC political editor tweets

  • New PM needed ‘within weeks’, says Tory MP

    Former Welsh Secretary Stephen Crabb says a new prime minister needs to take over within weeks.

    Mr Crabb – previously loyal to Mrs May – told BBC Wales his party had “come to the end of the road with this prime minister”.

    “We are at a moment where we do need to turn a page and look at a new prime minister coming in the next few weeks.” he said.

  • ‘This isn’t personal’ against May, says Baker

    BBC News Channel

    A bit more from Brexiteer Steve Baker.

    “It’s all highly, highly undesirable,” he admits, “but people shouldn’t be under any illusions – this isn’t personal. It’s about the future of the country.”

    He says his party “needs to reassemble a governing coalition willing to take us out of the EU”, under a new leader.

    If that can’t be done, there will be a general election and the Conservative Party “will be obliterated”, he says.

  • PM has ‘bought herself some time’

    BBC political editor tweets…

  • ‘This is a very difficult time for everyone’

    Conservative MP and leading Brexiteer Steve Baker reacts to the latest developments.

    He says “the prime minister will be campaigning for the European elections and on Friday she will meet Sir Graham [Brady].

    “Obviously, they will discuss matters of interest.

    “It’s very much going to depend on the result of the elections and I’m sure (the media) will be able to give us a flavour.

    “People are rather impatient, but equally most colleagues do appreciate this is a very difficult time for everyone.”

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