And it's a question of who the parliamentary party thinks is the right person to lead - not just in terms of the negotiations but also the wider 'one nation' agenda that we set out in our manifesto last year and that we were elected on.

I think honestly that Michael [Gove] came to this decision[Prime Minister candidate] very late, that he needed to step up.

I have concluded unequivocally that the right person is Michael Gove and I am delighted to be endorsing his candidacy.

Let's be honest, the fact that Michael [Gove] announced very late in the process this morning that he was going to put his name forward, showed how much he had wrestled with this.

I think it's too soon. We are less than 24 hours since the polls closed, it's too soon to speculate. There's all sorts of names, I'm sure, around.

It is equally important that we now secure the right deal for Britain - and the next leader must have the skill and credibility to put together the right team to renegotiate our exit from and future relationship with Europe and explain the final terms to the British people.

I have said before I think it would be really good to have a woman in the final two but that's a matter for the parliamentary party.