Theresa May steps down as Conservative party leader, makes way for a frenetic succession race

United Kingdom Prime Minister Theresa May stepped down as leader of the Conservative Party on Friday, making way for a succession race.

May will remain Prime Minister until a new leader is chosen, likely in late July, but has relinquished control over the direction of Britain's tortuous departure from the European Union. Brexit is still scheduled for October 31 but while her rivals thrash it out, the project remains stuck, with the only divorce plan agreed with Brussels stuck in Parliament.

Theresa May took over the office after the 2016 referendum vote to leave the EU and has spent the past three years working on the plan, delaying Brexit twice to try to get it through. But she finally acknowledged defeat in a tearful resignation speech last month, the culmination of months of political turmoil that has slowly sapped all her authority.

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However, she upheld her duties this week, hosting US President Donald Trump for a state visit, before joining him and other world leaders to mark 75 years since the D-day landings. Eleven Conservative MPs are currently vying to replace her, including former foreign minister Boris Johnson, but some are expected to drop out before Monday's deadline for nominations.

The winner will have only a few months to decide whether to try to salvage May's plan, delay Brexit again or sever ties with Britain's closest trading partner with no agreement at all. They are under pressure from eurosceptic figurehead Nigel Farage, who has called for a "no deal" option and whose Brexit party topped European polls last month.

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His party made a strong showing in a by-election for the British parliament in the eastern city of Peterborough on Thursday but failed in its goal of winning its first MP. However, the pro-European Liberal Democrats, who want to reverse Brexit, also performed well in the European polls, highlighting how divided Britain remains over its future.