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May heralds ‘proper funding for mental health’ in resignation speech

Prime Minister Theresa May has pointed to the NHS long-term plan, and the funding for mental health, as one of her major achievements in office. 

She announced she was resigning as Prime Minister on 7 June after MPs failed to back her Brexit agreement.

Talking about the NHS, Ms May said her role gave her a unique opportunity to ‘put proper funding for mental health at the heart of the long-term plan.’

She said: ‘The unique privilege of this office is to use this platform to give a voice to the voiceless, to fight the burning injustices that still scar our society.

‘That is why I put proper funding for mental health, at the heart of the NHS long-term plan.’

It comes after former primary care minister Steve Brine announced in March his intention to step down after he believed the way the Government was handling Brexit could lead to a no-deal scenario

Speaking in Downing Street today, Theresa May revealed her decision to resign due to her inability to deliver Brexit. 

She said: ‘I negotiated the terms of our exit and a new relationship with our closest neighbours that protect jobs, our security and our union. I have done everything I can to convince MPs to back that deal. Sadly, I have not been able to do so. I tried three times. I believe it was right to persevere, even when the odd against success seemed high.’

She added: ‘But it is now clear to me that it is in the best interests of the country for a new prime minister to lead that effort. So I am today announcing I will resign as leader of the Conservatives and Unionist Party on Friday 7 June so that a successor can be chosen.’ 

The process to elect a new leader will begin in the week following Ms May’s resignation.

Earlier this month, Ms May committed to recruit an extra 5,000 GPs to the NHS ‘as soon as possible’.