Premiership of Theresa May

Theresa May's term as the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom began on 13 July 2016, when she accepted an invitation of Queen Elizabeth II to form a government, following the resignation of her predecessor David Cameron in the aftermath of the European Union (EU) membership referendum, and ended with her resignation on 24 July 2019. While serving as prime minister, May also served as the First Lord of the Treasury, Minister for the Civil Service and leader of the Conservative Party. May's premiership was dominated by Brexit, in particular by her negotiations with the European Union of a Brexit withdrawal agreement, and her attempts to gain Parliamentary approval for this agreement, thereby achieving the departure of the UK from the EU. Other events during May's premiership included terrorist attacks in Westminster, Manchester Arena and London Bridge, the Grenfell Tower fire, the Windrush scandal, and the poisoning of Sergei and Yulia Skripal. The UK's official assessment of this incident was supported by 28 other countries, who expelled an unprecedented total of 153 Russian diplomats. This was considered to be one of the highest points of May's premiership.

In January 2017 the Supreme Court ruled against May's government, finding that the process of leaving the EU could not be initiated without an authorising Act. On 29 March the UK invoked Article 50. This formally began the process of leaving, and set the date for Brexit as 29 March 2019. In April 2017, May called a snap general election, held on 8 June, with the aim of strengthening her hand with opposition MPs and in the EU negotiations. However, the election resulted in the loss of the Conservatives' small overall majority, weakening her position. Brexit negotiations formally opened later in June. In July a Withdrawal Bill was introduced to the House of Commons, to formally repeal Britain's membership of the EU. The government did not want to give MPs a vote on the withdrawal agreement made with the EU, but an amendment to the Withdrawal Bill, authored by Dominic Grieve, to give Parliament a legal guarantee of a vote on any withdrawal agreement, was passed by 309 to 305.

In July 2018, more than a year after negotiations had formally opened, the Chequers plan was published, laying out the type of future relationship with the EU that the UK sought to achieve. This led to the resignations of Brexit Secretary David Davis and Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson. In November, the text of the finalised withdrawal agreement was published. On 4 December, the May government was found in contempt of Parliament, for failing to lay before Parliament its legal advice on the proposed withdrawal agreement; the first government to be found in contempt in British history. Later in December, May faced, and won, a Conservative Party vote of confidence. Early in 2019, Parliament voted against ratifying the withdrawal agreement three times, the first time by a margin of 230 votes, the worst defeat for any government in modern Parliamentary history. The date of Brexit was delayed to 31 October 2019. The Cooper–Letwin Act was passed against the government's opposition. European elections were held on 23 May 2019, at which the Conservatives came fifth with 9% of the vote, and the next day May announced her resignation. She resigned on 24 July 2019, and was succeeded by Johnson.

Bid for Conservative leadership

In a referendum held on 23 June 2016, Britain voted to withdraw from the European Union, with a result of 52% for withdrawal and 48% for remaining within the union. David Cameron, who as prime minister had campaigned to remain within the European Union, announced on 24 June 2016, immediately following the announcement of the referendum results, that he would resign from his post. Following the first stages of a Conservative Party leadership election, Home Secretary Theresa May's only remaining competitor, Andrea Leadsom, withdrew from the race on 11 July 2016. Following this announcement, Cameron said that he would step down from his post on 13 July. Cameron formally tendered his resignation to Queen Elizabeth II on that day, who subsequently appointed Theresa May as his successor.

Early days

When appointed by the Queen on 13 July 2016, May became the UK's second female prime minister, after Margaret Thatcher, and the nation's first female Prime Minister of the 21st century. She told the media on 11 July 2016 that she was "honoured and humbled" to ascend to the role.

Responding to some calls for a general election (reported by the news media) to confirm her mandate, "sources close to Mrs May" said there would be no such election, according to the BBC
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