What happens next after Theresa May steps down and who will replace her as PM?

THERESA May has finally quit as Tory leader today after months of pressure on her for failing to deliver Brexit.

However, Mrs May will remain as PM until her successor is elected, likely to be until the end of July.

She will now officially kick off the leadership race to begin to replace her.

The 1922 committee confirmed earlier they had opened nominations, which will close on Monday at 5pm.

The names of those who will be running will be confirmed then.

MPs need eight people backing them in order to stand at all.

In the days that follow there will be several hustings and debates in Parliament where the candidates can show off their skills and try to woo over MPs.

All Tory MPs will cast their first votes on Thursday 13 June.

They will need the support of 17 MPs or they will be automatically kicked out after that, and in round three they will need 33 backers  to continue after Tories changed the rules to speed up the contest.

There are currently 11 MPs in the running, but they will be whittled down to just two.

Boris Johnson, Dominic Raab and Jeremy Hunt are currently in the lead.

Those will go head-to-head against each other for the members to decide.

The 120,000 or so members will have a huge job picking not just their new leader, but the next Prime Minister too.

As soon as the results are in, Mrs May will go to see the Queen to formally step down as PM.

Then the winner will go along afterwards to accept her invitation to form a Government.

They could face a huge task on their hands, however, if Labour decide to call a vote of confidence as soon as they come into office.

If a candidate goes for a No Deal Brexit, they could face an uphill battle to stop a general election being called.

A new PM is set to be in place for the end of July, before Parliament breaks up for recess.

On May 24, Mrs May made a speech saying she was stepping down after losing the support of her MPs.

In a tearful speech outside Downing Street she said: "I have done my best.

"I will shortly leave the job that it has been the honour of my life to hold – the second female Prime Minister but certainly not the last.

"I do so with no ill-will, but with enormous and enduring gratitude to have had the opportunity to serve the country I love."

She leaves a difficult task for whoever takes over from her as she's been unable to deliver even the first stage of Brexit.

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