Theresa May ‘told MPs she will quit as PM in August 2019’
THERESA May is understood to have told fellow Conservative MPs the date she will quit as Prime Minister – and it means she has two years to get Britain through Brexit.
The Mirror reported Mrs May has pencilled in Friday, August 30, 2019, as the day she will quit.
She is believed to have given MPs the date to stop any talk of a leadership challenge before that.
The revelation came as the Prime Minister returned to Snowdonia for the bank holiday weekend.
The last time Ms May was in Dolgellau was just before Easter, when she said she made the decision to call a snap General Election.
Mrs May and her husband Philip were seen leaving the 18th-century St Mary’s Church on Sunday, where she smiled and waved at a handful of people outside.
The couple arrived at the church in a minibus with a group including security personnel.
One woman said: “It’s good to see her again. She certainly puts Dolgellau on the map.”
Mrs May and her husband, who are keen walkers, were previously spotted hiking in the foothills of Cader Idris.
One hiker said at Easter: “I was surprised to see the Prime Minister and her husband walking towards me, seemingly without a care, just enjoying the scenery and the wonderful views.”
The news broke on Saturday night that Mrs May has pencilled in Friday, August 30, 2019, as the day she will quit as Prime Minister.
Mrs May is reported to have met a group of 15 MPs at the PM’s country retreat of Chequers.
One Tory MP who was a guest said: “It’s clear she won’t lead us into another election and will be gone by September 2019. She invited MPs to Chequers to ensure there isn’t a leadership contest in the meantime.
“Giving the dogs a stroke is better than giving them a kick, I suppose.”
The plan is to have a leadership election over the summer of 2019, with the winner announced on August 30.
The new PM would then face MPs on Tuesday, September 3, as Parliament returns from its summer break.
Although Brexit Secretary David Davis has been urged to stand, he is understood to have ordered allies – including former chief whip Andrew Mitchell and exTory chairman Grant Shapps – to stop campaigning.