UK Environment Secretary Joins Race For Conservative Leadership Ahead Of May's Resignation

LONDON (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 26th May, 2019) UK Environment Secretary Michael Gove became on Sunday the eighth UK politician to announce that he would be running for leader of the ruling Conservative Party and the prime minister's seat after Theresa May's upcoming resignation in early June.

May announced on Friday that she would step down as Conservative leader on June 7 after failing to achieve consensus in parliament and within her own party over the country's withdrawal from the European Union. She will remain prime minister until her successor has been appointed.

"I can confirm that I will be putting my name forward to be prime minister of this country.

I believe that I am ready to unite the Conservative and Unionist Party, ready to deliver Brexit and ready to lead this great country," Gove told reporters.

The other seven politicians who have already stated their intention to run for prime minister include former UK Brexit Secretary Dominic Raab, former leader of the UK parliament's lower house Andrea Leadsom, Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt, his predecessor, Boris Johnson, Health Secretary Matt Hancock, International Development Secretary Rory Stewart and former Work and Pensions Secretary Esther McVey.