'Thank you for putting your faith in me': May's final words as PM

Theresa May has left Downing Street for the final time with words of thanks and hope that she will serve as an inspiration to young women.

Mrs May used her last speech as prime minister to thank her colleagues, the armed forces, security services, public servants and the British people.

She said: "Everyone who loves our great country, who works hard for their family and wants their children and grand-children to enjoy greater opportunity than they did.

"Thank you for putting your faith in me and giving me the chance to serve."

She also thanked her husband Philip, who she described as "my greatest supporter and my closest companion".

Mrs May said she hoped her premiership will inspire girls who want to move into politics, saying: "I hope every young girl who has seen a woman PM knows there are no limits to what a woman can achieve."

Shortly after her speech, Mrs May went to Buckingham Palace for an audience with the Queen, tendering her resignation as prime minister and recommending that the monarch call on Boris Johnson to form a government.

Mrs May said she wished her successor well, saying: "I wish him and the government he will lead every good fortune in the months and years ahead.

"Their successes will be our country's successes, and I hope that they will be many."

She said the most pressing demand on the next government was to sort out Brexit and get the UK out of the "current impasse".

"The immediate priority being to complete our exit from the European Union in a way that works for the whole United Kingdom," she said.

"With success in that task can come a new beginning for our country, a national renewal that can move us beyond the current impasse into the bright future the British people deserve."

It comes after Mrs May faced MPs at her final Prime Minister's Questions.

During a record-breaking session which lasted more than an hour, an emotional Mrs May said her "greatest motivation" would always be serving her constituents after issuing the Labour leader a stinging blow.

Watched by her husband Philip, she delivered a final attack on Jeremy Corbyn, telling the Labour leader he should resign.

Mrs May said: "Perhaps I could just finish my exchange with him by saying this: As a party leader who has accepted when her time was up, perhaps the time is now for him to do the same."

As she left the chamber as prime minister for the final time, she was given a standing ovation by Tory MPs, the DUP and Liberal Democrats.

Some Labour backbenchers joined in, but Mr Corbyn remained seated.

Mrs May began the session in a packed House of Commons by telling MPs that she will remain a backbencher.

Inevitably, she faced numerous questions about Mr Johnson and whether she had any advice for him.

Mrs May said: "I am pleased to hand over to an incoming leader of the Conservative Party and prime minister who I worked with when he was in my cabinet, and who is committed as a Conservative, who stood on a Conservative manifesto in 2017 to delivering on the vote of the British people in 2016 and to delivering a bright future for this country."

Later in the session, Mrs May said she would give her successor her "full support" from the backbenches.

Mr Corbyn rose to his feet and paid tribute to his opposite number's "sense of public duty" and asked if she, like departing chancellor Philip Hammond, would "oppose the reckless plans of her successor".

As MPs in the chamber laughed, Mr Corbyn noted the government benches were in "such good heart", adding: "For tomorrow they won't be."

In a series of back-and-forth exchanges, Mr Corbyn challenged Mrs May on her record in office, asking her if she had any regrets.

Before defending her record in office, Mrs May said: "It's very good to see the Conservative Party in good heart, which is more than I can say for the Labour Party."

Mr Corbyn said Mr Johnson had "no mandate" to succeed Mrs May and should hold an immediate election.

"The prime minister has dumped her own manifesto," he told the Commons.

"Given her successor has no mandate from the people, no mandate in which to move into office, doesn't she agree the best thing the right honourable member for Uxbridge could do later on today when he takes office is to call a general election and let the people decide their future?"

Mrs May rejected the suggestion, before calling for the Labour leader to join her in recognising his "time is up".

In her final remarks in the Commons as prime minister, Mrs May said she believed there would be another female prime minister among the current intake of MPs.

She said: "I'm sure that amongst the women in this House today there is a future prime minister, maybe more than one.

"Later today I will return to the backbenches and it will be my first time in 21 years so it's going to be quite a change from standing here at the despatch box."

She continued: "We are living through extraordinary political times.

"This House of Commons is rightly at the centre of those events.

"That's because of the vital link between every single member of this House and the communities, the Commons that we represent.

"That's the bedrock of our parliamentary democracy and of our liberty.

"And each of us, wherever we sit and whatever we stand for, can take pride in that.

"That duty to my constituents will remain my greatest motivation."

:: Analysis: Resolute May delivers clear message for her successor

by Kate McCann, political correspondent

It was a dignified final speech by a departing prime minister for whom public service has been at the heart of her time in Downing Street.

Addressing staff and journalists outside the building which has been her home for the last three years Theresa May, flanked by her husband Philip, thanked civil servants, public sector workers and the public for allowing her to serve.

Her message to her successor was clear; you have my backing to deliver a Brexit that works for everyone.

"Much remains to be done," she said, adding: "success means a new beginning, a national renewal".

It is perhaps her greatest regret that she will not be the one to deliver on such a pledge.

Mrs May appeared resolute but emotional as she bid farewell to the office she had always wanted to hold, although she remained composed and didn't break down as she did in her previous resignation speech in the same spot.

She spoke of her desire for young girls to have seen her time in office as an inspiration that they too can achieve the same, and thanked her husband too, who she called "my greatest support and my closest companion".

Interrupted mid-way through by a protester chanting "stop Brexit" Mrs May responded without hesitation: "I think not".

Her desire to see through the process she began, taking the UK out of the EU, was clear to the last and her frustration that she was unable to no doubt also on her mind.

And with that the podium was removed, Mrs May and her husband posed for photos on the steps of Downing Street and walked over to her ministerial car to applause from gathered staff.

A car that in just an hour's time would return with Boris Johnson, her successor.

:: In full: Theresa May's final Downing Street speech

"I am about to go to Buckingham Palace to tender my resignation to Her Majesty the Queen and to advise her to ask Boris Johnson to form a new administration.

"I repeat my warm congratulations to Boris on winning the Conservative leadership election.

"I wish him and the Government he will lead every good fortune in the months and years ahead.

"Their successes will be our country's successes, and I hope that they will be many.

"Their achievements will build on the work of nearly a decade of Conservative or Conservative-led government.

"During that time our economy has been restored, our public services reformed, and our values defended on the world stage.

"Of course, much remains to be done - the immediate priority being to complete our exit from the European Union in a way that works for the whole United Kingdom.

"With success in that task can come a new beginning for our country - a national renewal that can move us beyond the current impasse into the bright future the British people deserve.

"To serve as prime minister of the United Kingdom is the greatest honour.

"The heavy responsibilities are outweighed by the huge potential to serve your country.

"But you achieve nothing alone.

"And as I leave Downing Street, my final words are of sincere thanks.

"To my colleagues in Government and Parliament.

"To everyone in the building behind me and across the Civil Service.

"To the men and women of our armed forces and security services.

"And to the public servants in our schools, our NHS, our police and the other emergency services.

"All are inspired by the noble wish to serve their country in the national interest.

"I also want to thank the British people.

"Everyone who loves our great country, who works hard for their family and wants their children and grand-children to enjoy greater opportunity than they did.

"Thank you for putting your faith in me and giving me the chance to serve.

"This is a country of aspiration and opportunity and I hope that every young girl who has seen a woman Prime Minister now knows for sure that there are no limits to what they can achieve.

"Finally and most of all, I want to thank my husband Philip - who has been my greatest supporter and my closest companion.

"I am about to leave Downing Street but I am proud to continue as the Member of Parliament for Maidenhead.

"I will continue to do all I can to serve the national interest.

"And play my part in making our United Kingdom - a great country with a great future - a country that truly works for everyone."