A NORTH-EAST Conservative MP has thrown his weight behind Boris Johnson to be the next Prime Minister following Theresa May's departure.

Simon Clarke, Middlesbrough South and east Cleveland MP and outspoken critic of the Prime Minister, said Mrs May had done her best but it was time for change.

In backing Mr Johnson, he said the controversial figure was "perfectly placed" to deliver the result of the referendum, and described Mrs May's decision to take a no deal Brexit off the table as "disastrous".

Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen said it was a "sad day", however, Andy McDonald, Middlesbrough MP and shadow transport secretary, said the PM's resignation showed the Tories were in "complete and utter disarray" and he took "no solace" from her departure.

Mr Clarke said: "It is always sad when a Prime Minister stands down because Theresa May is a good person who has done her sincere best to lead this country through the Brexit process but it hasn't worked.

"I have been quite critical of some of the decisions that have been made, but my focus now is on making sure we get a leader who can deliver on Brexit, but also set out an attractive and compelling vision for the 2020s.

"This parliament still has three years to run and we have a lot of important work to do. My preferred candidate will be the man who embodies that spirit of optimism and drive, and the person I think can deliver all that is Boris Johnson.

"He is someone who led the Vote Leave campaign and he is perfectly placed to make sure we do indeed deliver what people voted for, and he will either face down the Europeans to get us a good deal, which I still believe could be achieved , but it will also require proper preparation for no deal, and the removal of no deal from the options which the Prime Minister accepted, was absolutely disastrous to our chances of securing a good deal.

"On a human level, everyone feels sympathy for Theresa May, but she hasn't persuaded Parliament, she hasn't even persuaded her own party that this is a viable way forward, and I am absolutely clear that my primary responsibility is my constituents.

"I said I would get them Brexit, and nothing on the table at the moment is good enough in that regard, so it is time for a change."

Mr Houchen added: "It is sad but it was on the cards. It has been a very difficult journey with Brexit.

"I do personally believe she has tried her hardest but it is right that we move in a new direction but it needs to happen quickly, because uncertainty over Brexit, more uncertainty over British Steel, we need to govern the country, so we need that leadership and we need to move on to help people rather than fight between ourselves in Westminster."

Mr McDonald said: "I take no solace from this chaos. We are without an effective Government at the moment, and that is worrying not least for the intervention of Government that is going to be needed with British Steel.

"This is a complete and utter mess and it is difficult to see how another leader coming in is going to change the dynamic in any shape, way or form. I fear there maybe a lurch further rightwards, which would be entirely the wrong response to this difficult situation.

"We have got to resolve our relationship with the European Union and quickly. This impacts on everything and it is alive and kicking with the situation we are seeing here with British Steel."

Sedgefield MP Phil Wilson added: "The primary concern is to sort out the issue surrounding Brexit. I know that she has done her best. I think she should have reached across the party political divide sooner.

"I was prepared to help facilitate the passage of her withdrawal bill through Parliament, but I believe whatever the deal is, the people need to have the final say on this, just like they had the first say. People do have the right to change their minds, I don't think that is an unreasonable position to take.

"I am sorry she has had to go in the way that she has. She was emotional about it and I can understand that but I think a lot of the problems that have occurred were of her own making, and she has also got Brexit-supporters in her own party who are completely unwilling to compromise, and they've got to realise what they want might not be what the people want."