‘Nobody could have worked harder’
Scottish Secretary David Mundell said he was “very sorry it has come to this”.
In a statement he said: “Nobody could have worked harder, or shown a greater sense of public duty, in delivering the result of the EU referendum than Theresa May.
“She has my utmost respect for those endeavours, in the most challenging of circumstances, as well as her unswerving commitment to the union.
“As Mrs May herself acknowledges, she has, however unfairly, become an impediment to the resolution of Brexit, and was no longer being given a hearing by Parliament.”
Other Tory MPs and ministers react
Environment Secretary Michael Gove calls Mrs May’s speech “moving”.
While Steve Baker, who strongly opposed Mrs May’s Brexit deal, called it “very dignified”.
And Dominic Raab, a candidate to replace Mrs May as party leader, called her a “patriot” and “loyal Conservative”.
More cabinet tributes
Former commons leader Andrea Leadsom, Work and Pensions Secretary Amber Rudd, and Chief Whip Julian Smith have reacted to Mrs May’s announcement.
May is ‘sincere and determined’
BBC News Channel
Another Conservative MP, Pauline Latham, praises Theresa May as “very sincere and determined”.
“But she didn’t manage it,” she adds.
Sturgeon: May’s departure ‘will not solve Brexit mess’
Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon tweets…
Next leader must be a Brexiteer, says Bone
BBC News Channel
Conservative Peter Bone says the next leader has to be someone “who believes in Leave” and someone not associated with the Brexit deal.
“Either Esther McVey, Dominic Raab, David Davis or Boris Johnson.
“We also need someone who can walk on the world stage straight away and who can win the next election.
“I think the right person is Boris Johnson.”
Cabinet ministers post Twitter tributes
International Trade Secretary Liam Fox and Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt have been quick to post their tributes to Mrs May…
‘Tremendous achievement’
Welsh Conservative leader Paul Davies AM thanked Mrs May for her dedication and commitment to Wales over her many years in politics.
“It is a tremendous achievement to be the country’s second female prime minister, who stepped into the job at a difficult time,” he said.
“The party must now come together and deliver the Brexit that people voted for.”
‘She could have been a national hero’
Conservative MP Peter Bone says the prime minister has “made the right decision”.
“She could have been a national hero if she had kept to her word that we would leave the UK on 29 March,” he tells the BBC.
“From that point on it was inevitable that she would not serve for much longer.”
‘An honour to serve’ – Barwell
‘Clear message’ on need to compromise
BBC News Channel
Reacting to the PM’s announcement, BBC Assistant Political Editor Norman Smith says he thought it was a “dignified but quite defensive” statement.
He adds that it contained a “clear message” to her successor that “compromise is not a dirty word”.
The moment Theresa May broke down
May in tears as she says serving as PM ‘honour of my life’
May’s resignation ‘sad but inevitable’
BBC News Channel
“A very sad but inevitable consequence of all that has happened,” says Conservative MP Gareth Johnson.
“Now the Conservative Party has to take time to reflect on that statement and obviously go on to elect a new leader.
“There is plenty of new talent out there but the person to unite the party is Dominic Raab.”
May moved to tears as she ends statement
The PM was moved to tears when she ended her statement.
“Our politics may be under strain but there is so much that is good about this country, so much to be proud of,” she said.
“I will shortly leave the job that it has been the honour of my life to hold.
She begins to cry as she says she is grateful to “serve the country I love”.
And with that she heads back into Number 10.
May: Conservative Party ‘can renew itself’
“I know that the Conservative Party can renew itself in the years ahead,” she says.
“I know that we can deliver Brexit.”
‘Proud of the progress we have made’
“I am proud of the progress we have made over the last few years,” Mrs May says.
“We have helped more people than ever secure a job.”
‘A matter of deep regret’
“It is a matter of deep regret that I have not been able to deliver Brexit.
“My successor will have to find a consensus.
“Consensus will only be possible if those on both sides of the debate ‘compromise’.”
May: I will resign on 7 June
“It is now clear to me that it is in the best interest of the UK for a new PM to lead that effort,” she says.
“I am today announcing that I will resign as Conservative leader on Friday 7 June.
“I have agreed with the party chairman that the process for electing a new leader will begin in the following week.”
May: I have not been able to convince MPs
She continues: “I negotiated the terms of our exit.”
“I have done everything I can to convince MPs to back that deal.
“Sadly I have not been able to do so.”