THERESA May has said she is "honoured and humbled" to become new leader of the Conservatives.
In a statement outside the Commons on Monday, Britain's next Prime Minister praised David Cameron for his stewardship of the party and country.
Mrs May also hailed Andrea Leadsom, whose shock decision to pull out of the Tory leadership race paved the way for her coronation, for the "dignity" she had shown.
Flanked by dozens of applauding MPs from all sides of the party, Mrs May said she would offer "strong, proven leadership to steer us through what will be difficult and uncertain economic and political times".
She said that she would "negotiate the best deal for Britain in leaving the EU and forge a new role for ourselves in the world".
In a message designed to reassure Eurosceptic Tories that her support for Remain during the referendum does not mean she will seek to go back on the vote to leave the EU, Mrs May said: "Brexit means Brexit and we're going to make a success of it."
And she added: "We need to unite our country and ... we need a strong, new positive vision for the future of our country - a vision of a country that works not for the privileged few, but that works for every one of us.
"Because we are going to give people more control over their lives and that's how together we will build a better Britain."
