PHILIP Davies has thrown his weight behind his partner – Esther McVey – in the Tory leadership race.

The Shipley MP, whose constituency includes Cullingworth and Denholme, said she had "a good chance" of being chosen as the next leader of the Conservative Party.

And Mr Davies confirmed that the couple are to be married, saying that they are planning a wedding next year.

Referring to an article in a national newspaper saying the pair would get hitched at some point, he said: “It is true, we are going to get married.

“We are looking at September next year.”

Mr Davies said he welcomed Theresa May’s announcement that she would be stepping down as Prime Minister on June 7.

He said: “I’m highly delighted. I submitted a vote of no confidence letter last July so it’s been ten months, quite a long wait.

“It has been going from bad to worse under her leadership.”

Keighley Labour MP, John Grogan, said Mrs May had "reached the end of the road" politically.

He said: "I have always thought Theresa May had a strong sense of duty towards our country.

"She did her very best but clearly had politically reached the end of the road.

"I am sceptical whether any alternative Tory Prime Minister will be able to unite the Conservative Party, much less the country."