Britain’s May throws in towel in emotional end

– ‘No legacy’ –

May was the surprising victor in a 2016 leadership contest to replace predecessor David Cameron after he resigned in the aftermath of the Brexit referendum

Despite having campaigned to stay in the EU, she embraced the cause with the mantra “Brexit means Brexit”.

However the decision to hold a disastrous snap election in June 2017, when she lost her parliamentary majority, left her stymied.

May will leave office without any significant achievements to her name — other than the bungled handling of Brexit, according to political analysts.

Theresa May: Britain’s outgoing PM in dates

Here are key dates for Theresa May, who steps down as Conservative Party leader on June 7 to make way for a new prime minister, amid Britain’s Brexit turmoil:

— October 1, 1956: She is born Theresa Brasier in Eastbourne on the southern English coast, the daughter of an Anglican vicar.

— 1974-1977: Studies at Oxford University, graduating in geography.

— 1977: Starts her career at the Bank of England as a financial analyst, later holding top advisory positions in the banking sector.

— 1980: Marries banker Philip May.

— 1997: Elected a Conservative member of parliament for the wealthy London commuter seat of Maidenhead. Goes on to become the party’s spokeswoman in opposition on various portfolios.

— 2002-2003: Becomes the first woman to chair the Conservative Party.

— 2010-2016: She serves as home secretary, or interior minister, in the Conservative government of prime minister David Cameron.

— July 11, 2016: Becomes the new leader of the Conservative Party, replacing Cameron who resigns after Britons vote in a June referendum to leave the European Union.

— July 13, 2016: Takes over from Cameron as prime minister.

— March 29, 2017: May formally triggers the two-year process of leaving the EU.

— June 8, 2017: In a snap election intended to strengthen her hand in negotiations over the terms of the Britain’s Brexit departure, May’s Conservatives lose their parliamentary majority.

— November 25, 2018: The other 27 EU member states approve the terms of May’s Brexit deal. However she fails to win the backing from her own parliament, which rejects it three times.

— May 24, 2019: Amid the Brexit stalemate, May announces her resignation.

— June 7, 2019: May to resign as leader of the Conservative Party.