Theresa May becomes Britain's prime minister as it happened

For further coverage of British politics and May's term as prime minister visit IBTimes UK.

Delivery of champagne for the new PM to celebrate?

Among the protesters at Downing Street where May delievered her first speech as PM are these pro-Brexiters urging her to trigger Artcle 50 immediately, beginning Britain's process of leaving the EU.

Labour's deputy leader Tom Watson has reacted to May becoming Britain's prime minister.

"I congratulate Theresa May on becoming Prime Minister. To serve our country in this role is a privilege and an honour," he said in a statement.

"These are challenging times for Britain. The decision to leave the European Union has created enormous economic uncertainty and insecurity. The priority for the new Prime Minister must be to ensure the country is best placed to deal with the challenges ahead.

"We've today had warm words from our new Prime Minister about the need to stand up for more than a 'privileged few'. The sentiments are good ones but just like her predecessor the rhetoric is much better than the reality. The truth is Theresa May has been at the heart of the Tory Government for the last six years and is tied to its record. It's a record of failing to stand up to for working people and backing policies that are putting vital public services like the NHS at risk.

"The Labour Party will continue to hold this failing Government to account and push for a fairer alternative – that is what the country deserves."

Here May's first speech as Prime Minister in full.

Theresa May will take congratulation calls from world leaders before starting her new role.

Aftter posing for photographs on the steps of 10 Downing Street with her husband, Philip, May heads inside, where she will meet staff.

As prime minister, Theresa May says she will prioritise "not the mighty nor the wealthy nor the privileged" but working people and will do everything she can to help people to get on in life."

"As we leave the European Union, we will forge a new role in the world for Britain," says May.

Theresa May has begun her first speech as Prime Minister at Downing Street talking about social justice.

" The government I lead will not be lead by the interests of the priveleged few, but by yours," she said.

EU Commission President has tweeted his congratulations to May after she became Prime Minister.

Theresa May has left Buckingham Palace on her way to Downing Street where she will address the nation for the first time since she became prime minister.

No one is currently running the country...

David Cameron has left Buckingham Palace. Theresa May has arrived and is about to become prime minister. Her audience with the Queen is expected to last up to half an hour before she heads to her new home on Downing Street, where she will make a speech.

Here's more of that speech from the soon-to-be former PM:

It's not been an easy journey and of course we have not got every decision right, but I do believe that today our country is much stronger.

...There can be no doubt that our economy is immeasurably stronger.

Politicians like to talk about policies but in the end it is about people's lives.

I think of the people doing jobs who were previously unemployed...I think of the hard working families paying lower taxes and getting higher wages...I think of the children who were languishing in the care system, and who have now been adopted by loving families.

I think of the couples who have been able to get married who weren't allowed to in the past.

...We've strengthened our nation's defences, with submarines, destroyers and frigates, and soon, aircraft carriers

I want to thank my children, Nancy, Elwen and Florence, for whom Downing Street has been a lovely home over these last six years...And above all, I want to thank Samantha, the love of my life.

I am delighted that for the second time in British history the new Prime Minister will be a woman – and once again, a Conservative.

I have seen that service day in and day out in the incredible work of our armed forces, our intelligence agencies and our police.

And I am proud that every day for the past two years I have used the office of Prime Minister in a non-political way to recognise and thank almost 600 of them as Points of Light whose service can be an inspiration to us all.

For me politics has always been about public service in the national interest. It is simple to say but often hard to do.

It has been the greatest honour of my life to serve our country as Prime Minister over these last six years, and to serve as leader of my party for almost eleven years.

And as we leave for the last time, my only wish is continued success for this great country that I love so very much.

Here are some of the highlights from that Cameron speech:

• Economy "immeasurably stronger"
• Politics about people's lives and not statistics
• He thanked civil servants and his political staff
• Recalled how daughter Florence climbed into one of his red boxes before a foreign trip and asked for Cameron to take her too
• Said Samantha was the "love of his life" and singled out her charity work
• The Armed Forces have been strengthened
• Gay Marriage was a signature achievement
• Said he will never get to meet all the people who wrote to him wishing him well
• "Delighted" there will be a second woman prime minister
• Theresa May will offer strong and stable leadership
• Said "It has been the greatest honour of my life to serve the country as prime minister"
• "My only wish is continued success for the great country that I love so very much"

In a wide ranging speech Cameron praised the "love of my life" Samantha before the whole family posed in front of the door to Number 10. The whole family has arrived at Buckingham Palace where Cameron, who is still technically prime minister, will have a private meeting with the Queen to tender his resignation.

David Cameron is making a goodbye speech outside Number 10. Stay tuned for the highlights...

Skills Minister Nick Boles has announced he is leaving his role and will not serve in May's government.

He said:

ITV's Robert Peston has just tweeted the latest gossip on who will be in Theresa May's cabinet, with Leave campaigner Chris Grayling predicted to be the minister for Brexit.

With just a matter of hours before Cameron officially steps down, we have collected some photos of his career as Conservative leader and PM. Here are some of the highlights from this extended collection.

Elsewhere in UK politics, MPs are debating the release of the Chilcot report into the 2003 Iraq War, in which former Labour PM Tony Blair was criticised.

This is from IBTimes UK's coverage of the release of the epic report last week:

"Sir John Chilcot has presented a damning indictment of the British case for invading Iraq, concluding that former Prime Minister Tony Blair's argument for going to war was based on "flawed intelligence and assessments" that "were not challenged [and] should have been."

"Chilcot revealed during a speech to launch his long-awaited report on the inquiry into the case for going to war in 2003 that military action was not a last resort and that the government did not effectively plan for the future of the country after the fall of Saddam Hussein.

"It was an ingrained belief [...] that Iraq had retained a chemical and biological capability and in future [could] require a nuclear capability," he said, arguing that Blair and his allies presented the assertions "with a certainty that was not justified."

One of the most reported predictions with regards to Theresa May's new cabinet is that current foreign secretary Philip Hammond will be given a promotion to chancellor.

The question is will George Osborne go in the opposite direction, or any other cabinet jobs that will be considered a demotion from his current role, or leave all together.

The soon-to-be former PM also confirmed Larry the cat would be staying at Number 10, even though "the staff love him. As do I"

:(

ICYMI: Cameron also broke into an American accent describing when he once walked down a New York street with Michael Bloomberg:

Minister without portfolio Rob Halfon shared his view of PMQs. Let's hope the Serjeant-at-Arms does not see that - MPs aren't supposed to take photos from insude the chamber:

Cameron's final words in the Commons were: "After all, as I once said: I was the future, once".

The closing remarks were a reference to the very first exchange he had at PMQs in 2005 with the then PM Tony Blair. "You were the future, once," he told Blair.

More from Cameron's speech, via PoliticsHome:

"I will miss the roar of the crowd, I will miss the barbs from the opposition but I will be willing you on and when I say willing you on, I don't just mean willing on the new prime minister at this despatch box or willing on the front bench defending the manifesto I helped put together, I mean willing all of you on because people come here with huge passion for the issues they care about, with great love for the constituencies they represent and also willing on this place, because here we can be pretty tough and test and challenge our leaders,. Perhaps more than other countries, but that is something we should be proud of and should keep at it and I hope you will all keep at it and I will you on as you do."

In final speech, Cameron tells MPs he will "miss roar of the crowd" and will be "willing you on" in his absence as "People come her with huge passion for issues they care about."

Adds "Should be proud at fact people are tough towards their leaders in this country."

David Cameron ends his final PMQs with: "The last thing I'd say is that you can achieve a lot of things in politics, you can get a lot of things done, that in the end, public service, the national interest is, that is what it's all about. Nothing is really impossible if you put your mind to it. After all, as I once said, I was the future once."

Leaves Houses of Commons to standing ovation from most of the MPs.

SNP's Carol Monoghan said that "between broken vows, Brexit and likely renewal of WMDs" the PM has done more for Scottish independence than "many of us on these benches could ever do".

Asks can Cameron make commitment to Scottish independence official by joining SNP?

David Cameron announces there will be £125m worth of payments for those affected by infected blood scandal when asked by MP Jo Churchill.

Earlier Manchester MP Jeff Smith asked Cameron: "You came in to office promising to keep AAA, and stop Tories banging on about Europe. How do you think that went?"

Cameron has just whipped out a photo of Larry the Downing Street cat to prove that he does indeed love him and will be sad to say goodbye to him when he leaves.

SNP's Angus Robertson stands up to say legacy of Cameron he's the PM who took Scotland "to brink of being taken out of EU" so will not be applauded by the party. Asks what advice he has for his successor and Scottish people who did not vote for Brexit before he leaves.

Cameron replies: "We should try to be as close to the EU as we can be."

Cameron also pays tribute to Cameron's wide and children as it is MP's "loved ones and our families who make enormous sacrifices"

Also thanks Cameron's mum for all her advice on how to wear toes and suit (referring to previous Cameron quip in PMQs saying he needs to "stand up straight and sing the national anthem".

Describes Corbyn's "tenacity" to remain as Labour leader as like the Black Knight in Monty Python and the Holy Grail, with every crisis he responds "it's only a scratch".

Corbyn using lots of quotes from home secretary Theresa May before asking his questions. Cameron hits back by praising May for becoming PM and adds "Pretty sure it's going to be 2-0" in terms of Tory female PMs.

Corbyn joins Cameron by paying tribute to British Wimbledon winners, as well as Serena Williams after reaching 22 Grand Slams. Also pays tribute to some of his achievements while PM, such as release of Shaker Aamer and bringing forward gay marriage even though a "majority" of the votes to do so were from Labour.

Asks if he is concerned about rise in homelessness in the UK. Cameron figure is around 10% less than under labour says the key is to build more homes, which is what Help to Buy does, but needs strong economy to do so.

Cameron starts by congratulating all the British winners at Wimbledon, including Andy Murray. Makes first joke saying that apart from meeting with Queen, rest of his diary is "remarkably light" today.

Cameron has arrived at the House of Commons to cheers and paper waving by the Tory party. PMQs about to start.

Here's a list of MPs who will ask Cameron a question for the final time.

Danny Kinahan (South Antrim)
Jeff Smith (Manchester, Withington)
Graham Stringer (Blackley and Broughton)
Jack Lopresti (Filton and Bradley Stoke)
Adrian Bailey (West Bromwich West)
Peter Lilley (Hitchin and Harpenden)
Jo Churchill (Bury St Edmunds)
Carol Monaghan (Glasgow North West)
John Mc Nally (Falkirk)
Jo Stevens (Cardiff Central)
Margaret Ferrier (Rutherglen and Hamilton West)
Steve Brine (Winchester)
Wendy Morton (Aldridge-Brownhills)
Ian Blackford (Ross, Skye and Lochaber)
Robin Walker (Worcester)

David Cameron First Ever PMQs 7 December 2005

Managed to dig out a video of a fresh-faced Cameron in his first ever PMQs opposite a no-longer fresh faced Tony Blair.

What's interesting to see is Cameron criticising the Labour party for "shouting like a child" during PMQs, especially as that is something which Tory MPs do pretty much every week now towards Corbyn.

Video also shows Mayor of London Sadiq Khan as a mere backbencher and the late Charles Kennedy asking if the then Labour government assisted with the transfer of terrorist suspects from Afghanistan who allegedly then went on to be tortured.

Just up on IBTimes UK is a profile on Owen Smith following his announcement he will be running in the Labour leadership contest. Sure to be helpful for the 98% of the British public who may not have even heard of him until a couple of days ago.

The full story can be read here:

Unlike most people, Theresa May will have some idea of what she's going to be doing in the first day of her new job. Now only a matter of hours before she becomes the new PM, IBTimes UK has handily laid out will occur during her first day in office.

If anyone was wondering what David Cameron ate in his final night at Downing Street, apparently it was an Indian takeaway.

Before we hear Cameron giving his final PMQs at the Commons, you can read what our feature writer Shane Croucher has to say about what he could do next after leaving 10 Downing Street. Here's one of the many glowing extarcts:

Luckily for you, your years of experience as a slick PR man before becoming an MP have trained you well for polishing turds and painting lipstick on pigs. Like a skilled potter, you could spend the rest of your life smoothing the crap-mound into a fine-looking vase; writing memoirs, touring the broadcasters as a pundit, perhaps barnstorming from the Lords in a never-ending defence of your prime ministership until the public gets used to the stench and forgets the whole Brexit thing.

You can read the rest of the piece here.

Just over two hours now until Cameron attends his final PMQs.

Yesterday we also saw removal vans outside 10 Downing Street backing away all of David and Samantha Cameron's bits and bobs before they move out.

As Britain prepares for a new life under Theresa May's government, IBTimes UK has a series of articles and videos about our new PM.

First up, we have our political reporter Ian Silvera doing a Facebook live yesterday taking questions from our readers about May.

We also had a look at May's history on LGBT rights while in government. Our reporter Lydia Smith writes:

Praised for her involvement in legalising same-sex marriage in Britain, prime minister-in-waiting Theresa May is often regarded as one of the more progressive, moderate Conservatives. Even more so when compared to her former leadership rival Andrea Leadsom, who pulled no punches in airing her views against gay marriage.

As LGBT rights activists have pointed out, however, Britain's new prime minister has a mixed record when it comes to equality

The full article can be read here.

We also have an opinion piece from one of our columnists Yasmin Alibhai-Brown entitled 'David Cameron should have stayed - Theresa May isn't up to the job'

Alibhai-Brown argues:

For a feminist like myself this should be a momentous and jubilant moment. It isn't. Some successful females – Andrea Leadsom, Hillary Clinton, Sarah Palin, Cherie Blair and other pro-war Blairite ladies and Ann Widdecombe, Mrs May, force us to examine some of the fairy tales of feminism and to define our belief system with greater clarity and honesty. Not all women with power are good for women or the wider society.

Read the full piece here.

Sticking with Labour, a video has emerged of shadow chancellor John McDonnell describing the Labour MPs who attempted to unseat Corbyn as "f*****g useless".

Warning: Obviously, there's strong language.

Speaking to the Today programme, McDonnell defending the comments. He said: "It was a stand-up comedy event... It was a joke." He added: "I'm an ordinary bloke. I used some bad language."

Here is the expected timeline for the Labour leadership in the wake of Smith's announcement and the NEC voting in favour of Corbyn automatically appearing on the ballot.

Members of the NEC last night voted 18-14 in favour of Corbyn not being subjected to rule that means leadership candidates must have the backing of 20% of MPs/MEPs (in this case 51) to officially put their name forward.

In a vote of confidence from fellow Labour MPs in the wake of the EU Referendum, Corbyn only got the backing of 40 MPs.

Just to make sure the Tory party don't hog the limelight today, the Labour party made sure their crisis roles on, with Owen Smith confirming he will stand for the leadership.

He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that Corbyn is "a good man with great Labour values" but "is not a leader". He added the idea of a Labour government ruling Britain right now "feels so distant".

Full story to follow.

After Cameron's resignation, May will then be summoned to the Palace and invited to form a new government before she makes her way to 10 Downing Street to address the nation.

Already it is being reported May could promote several female MPs to her cabinet, meaning half the top roles in her team will be women. Among those already named to be placed in top positions in Britain's second ever female PM's government are Amber Rudd, currently the energy secretary, and Justine Greening, the international development secretary.

A spokesperson fro May told the Press Association: "It was Theresa that set up the campaign to elect more female MPs to parliament - and she has always believed that there should be more women in prominent government positions."

The cabinet reshuffle will be announced later today after she moves into Downing Street with her husband, Phillip.

Good morning and welcome to the IBTimes UK's live coverage of David Cameron's final day as prime minster before he resigns to make way for Theresa May to enter 10 Downing Street.

Later today, Cameron heads to the House of Commons to attend his final Prime Minister's Questions, with MPs from all sides expected to applaud and pay tribute to him following six years in charge.

IBTimes UK will be covering the event live, as well as all other events taking place in what will be a hectic day in British politics.

After PMQs, Cameron will head over the Buckingham Palace to formally tender his resignation to the Queen.

Ahead of his resignation, Cameron told the Daily Telegraph how he felt stepping down as PM after all these years. He said: "I came into Downing Street to confront our problems as a country and lead people through difficult decisions so that together we could reach better times. As I leave today, I hope that people will see a stronger country, a thriving economy, and more chances to get on in life."