David Cameron chairs last cabinet meeting as PM

LONDON — David Cameron chaired his last cabinet meeting as Britain's prime minister Tuesday, a day before he will leave the role.

Cameron had announced he would step down by October after Britain voted to leave the European Union last month, but that process was unexpectedly accelerated when Andrea Leadsom, one of the two candidates shortlisted to replace him, suddenly pulled out of the leadership race on Monday.

The sole remaining candidate, Home Secretary Theresa May, was elected the leader of the ruling Conservative Party “with immediate effect” Monday and will become the country’s next prime minister on Wednesday. She will be the second woman to hold the role after Margaret Thatcher, who governed between 1979 and 1990.

A removal van was seen outside the prime minister’s apartment on Downing Street to take away Cameron's possessions ahead of May’s arrival.

Cameron will answer questions from members of Parliament in the House of Commons on Wednesday before offering his resignation to Queen Elizabeth II at Buckingham Palace. "We’ll have a new Prime Minister by Wednesday evening," he said.

Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt said some "wonderful tributes" were paid to Cameron at the cabinet meeting, the BBC reported.

"There was a feeling across the cabinet of great pride at what David Cameron has achieved over the last six years, sadness that it has ended, in a way, perhaps much quicker than people thought," he said.

"But also huge gratitude to him for what's he achieved for the country and the way he's changed the Conservative Party."

Cameron said he was “delighted” that May will be the next prime minister in a statement Monday.

“She is strong, she is competent, she is more than able to provide the leadership that our country is going to need in the years ahead and she will have my full support,” he said.