CRI听力:Theresa May to Succeed David Cameron as UK Prime Minister

The day's dramatic events began with Andrea Leadsom pulling out of the final stage of the Tory Party leadership race. The Energy Minister said Britain needs a new Prime Minister as soon as possible, and Theresa May, with over 60% of parliamentary party support behind her, is "ideally placed to implement Brexit on the best possible terms."

"A nine week leadership campaign at such critical moment for our country, is highly undesirable. Business needs certainty, a strong and unified government must move quickly to set out what an independent United Kingdom's framework for business looks like."

Leadsom was the latest to quit the contest, leaving Theresa May as the only candidate standing. In response to her statement, the 1922 committee of Conservative MPs held an emergency meeting before the group's chairman, Graham Brady, announced that Theresa May is officially the new Tory Party leader.

"I have received confirmation from the board and the Party, I can now declare that Mrs May has been elected as the new leader of the Conservative Party with immediate effect".

Shortly after the announcement, David Cameron emerged from 10 Downing Street, giving a brief speech saying that he will hand over to Theresa May within 48 hours.

"Tomorrow I will chair my last cabinet meeting, on Wednesday I would attend the House of Commons for Prime Minister's Questions, and then after that, I expect to go to the Buckingham Palace to offer my resignation. So we'll have a new Prime Minister in that building behind me by Wednesday evening."

Taken by surprise rather like everyone else, Theresa May had little time to prepare before making a short statement as the new Tory Party leader and Prime Minister in waiting. She pledged to form a strong, proven leadership to steer the country through what will be difficult and uncertain economic and political times.

"The need of course to negotiate the best deal for Britain in leaving the EU, and to forge a new role for ourselves in the world. Brexit means Brexit, and we are going to make a success of it. Second we need to unite our country. And third we need a strong, new, positive vision for the future of our country, a vision of a country that works not for the privileged few, but works for every one of us."

Theresa May is expected to go to the Buckingham Palace to the see the Queen and receive her invitation to form a government. She is the second female Prime Minister in British history.