Conservatives are calling for a leader with a different approach to Brexit following the Prime Minister's resignation announcement.

Yesterday, Theresa May said that she will resign as Leader of the Conservative Party on June 7, triggering a leadership election.

The winner of this election will assume the role of Prime Minister.

South Dorset MP Richard Drax, said: “I am not surprised. It has been quite a long time coming. I am very sad it has come to this.

“Regrettably, in my view, Brexit was simply not delivered. I am afraid her version of Brexit was not Brexit at all.

“I hope that the new leader, whoever he or she is, now delivers on the vote taken in June 2016.”

Mr Drax has not indicated who he will be supporting in the coming leadership election.

He said: “We need a leader, not a manager. Mrs May sadly was not a leader.

“We need someone to sprinkle some fairy dust right across the country.”

West Dorset MP Sir Oliver Letwin did not wish to comment.

Caroline Nickinson, Chairman of the South Dorset Conservative Association, said: “Theresa May has tried her best to deliver Brexit, but has clearly recognised that a different approach is now required.

“The Conservative Party is now preparing for a leadership election to ensure that we have the right leader and Prime Minister to take forward the democratic will of the people to deliver Brexit.”

At the time of publication, four Conservative MPs have declared their intention to seek the leadership – International Development Secretary Rory Stewart, former Work and Pensions Secretary Esther McVey, former Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson and current Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt.

Meanwhile, Dorset Chamber chief executive Ian Girling said: “The absolute priority now is stability.

“There has been so much uncertainty over the past three years, which businesses in Dorset have coped with admirably.

“Whoever takes over from Mrs May must be able to regroup Government and bring a very strong sense of stability, not just for business confidence but for the wider country too.

“It is time to look forward and business needs someone who can create the clarity that it desperately needs for the future.

“We will watch with interest and make sure that Dorset’s views are fed through to the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) when it makes the business case to the new leader.”