David Cameron announced he would tender his resignation as leader of the Conservative party on Wednesday July 13. Home Secretary Theresa May will succeed him as Prime Minister, and will be the first female Prime Minister since Margaret Thatcher to lead the United Kingdom.

The conservative party currently holds a majority of the seats within the U.K.’s parliament, the U.K.’s prime minister is the head of the majority party in the parliament. May can thus become prime minister without holding an early national general election. Some critics have called for another general election to give the conservative party a fresh mandate for leadership through Brexit.

May is likely to trigger the EU’s Article 50, which will formally begin the U.K.’s exit from the EU, when she assumes office. After triggering Article 50, the U.K. will have two years to formally negotiate new trade deals with the EU. The EU has pressured the U.K. to formally begin its exit as early as possible.

The conservative party was largely split in its support of the U.K.’s referendum on EU membership, in which a majority of respondents voted June 23 to leave. May supported remaining within the EU, while Leadsom was a spokesman for the Leave campaign.

Cameron announced he would step down in the days following the U.K. vote to leave the EU, citing the need for fresh leadership in the complex negotiations required after the formal process is initiated. Cameron, along with several allies in the Conservative party, supported May’s bid for leadership.

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