LONDON, 11 Jul (ANA) - British energy minister Andrea Leadsom has quit the contest to become Britain's next prime minister after her rival Theresa May launched her national campaign to be elected Conservative Party leader. The next Tory leader had been expected to be announced in early September. But today's shock development could hurry up Mr Cameron's exit from Downing Street and the official confirmation of Britain's second female prime minister. The stunning news comes after a weekend dominated by a row over Mrs Leadsom's comments in a newspaper interview. She was accused of suggesting she would make a better prime minister than Mrs May because she had children. Mrs Leadsom later apologised to Mrs May over the remarks, who this morning revealed she had accepted the apology. Mrs Leadsom has also faced claims over her CV and demands to publish her tax returns amid questions over her financial affairs. If Mrs Leadsom does withdraw from the contest, it means the Conservative Party membership will not be required to vote in order to elect one of the two candidates as the country's next leader. Mrs Leadsom and Mrs May were left as the final pairing from an original field of five candidate, following a ballot of Tory MPs. The Home Secretary Mrs May has vowed to "make a success" of Britain leaving the EU as she blasted those still pushing for a re-run of the EU referendum. But she said the next Government "cannot become defined exclusively by the process of our withdrawal from the EU". Mrs May spelled out her vision for "serious social reform" and a "country that truly works for everyone".(ANA)

FA/ANA/11 July 2016------