Andrea Leadsom has dropped out of the Conservative leadership race, clearing the way for Theresa to be named Britain’s next Prime Minister.

It follows a torrid week for the Tory leadership contender who came under attack from senior Conservative colleagues for her incendiary comments on Theresa May’s childlessness. In an interview this morning Ms Leadsom said that she felt she was “under attack, under enormous pressure”. 

“It has been shattering,” she added.

There are suggestions, however, that the party would need to find an alternative to Ms Leadsom to allow the 150,000 party members a proper choice. 

The junior energy minister, who was a vocal campaigner and voice in the Leave campaign during the European Union referendum, was hedging her bets in the contest on her “outsider” status. 

Graham Brady, chair of the 1922 committee of Conservative MPs in Westminster, is expected to make a statement at 12.30

May left the venue of her campaign launch speech in Birmingham before reporters there were able to ask her about Mrs Leadsom's statement.

(The Independent)