A look at the career of Theresa May, Britain’s next Prime Minister

Home Secretary (Interior Minister) Theresa May is the only remaining candidate to be the new leader of Britain’s ruling Conservative Party and a formal process will now take place to confirm her in the role, the chairman of a party committee running the leadership contest said on Monday (July 11).

Once confirmed as Conservative leader, May will automatically become the new prime minister, replacing outgoing leader David Cameron.

May’s triumph came after Energy minister Andrea Leadsom abruptly withdrew from the contest on Monday.

The two women had been due to contest a ballot of around 150,000 Conservative party members, with the result to be declared by Sept. 9, but the shock announcement opens the way for May to take over much sooner.

May, 59, who has served as interior minister for the past six years, is now set to become Britain’s second female prime minister after Margaret Thatcher.

In a speech earlier on Monday she set out her vision for the economy, calling for “a country that works for everyone, not just the privileged few”.

May favoured the ‘Remain’ side during last month’s referendum campaign. But she repeated her new mantra that “Brexit means Brexit”, saying there could be no second referendum and no attempt to rejoin the EU by the back door.

May is seen as a serious and steady pair of hands.

But she does have a flamboyant taste in shoes which range from studded flats to zebra skin kitten heels and from over the knee patent boots to golden wellies.