NORTH Shropshire MP Owen Paterson said he believes it was the right time for the Prime Minister to announce she would be standing down from her position.

Theresa May addressed the public on the morning of Friday, May 24, and set the date for her resignation from the position as June 7.

May is set to bring her three-year spell as PM to an end, after failing to deliver Brexit on the back of the 2016 referendum.

Mr Paterson, who has long backed the idea of leaving the European Union (EU), believes it is the correct decision for his party’s leader to step down.

“It was the right time for her to go,” he said.

“I’ve been calling for it for months now because she has not delivered on the promise of Brexit.

“The withdrawal agreement she proposed on several occasions did not agree with Brexit.

“So, I do believe it is a good thing she has stood down.

“After the amazing European election result, it is vital the Conservative Party chooses the right person as leader who is going to deliver Brexit and take us out.”

Mrs May proposed a withdrawal agreement in the House of Commons three times and was set to propose it for a fourth time prior to her decision to resign.

Mr Paterson now believes the country is obliged to leave the EU before the new deadline of October 31, and insists he will only support somebody committed to delivering Brexit for the position as PM.

He added: “It is now necessary we leave on October 31.

“We must leave with the World Trade Organisation option which has side deals already in place.

“People labelling it a “no deal” Brexit are inaccurate – there are already side deals in place.

“It is vital we leave, otherwise this whole saga will continue and just drag on more and more.

“The party must put the right person in charge who will make sure that does not happen.

“I am unsure as to who I will be supporting to take on the role as Prime Minister yet.

“I will see who is in the running first, then I will give my backing to one of them if they fill my criteria.”