WOKINGHAM MP John Redwood has revealed he is backing energy minister Andrea Leadsom as the new Prime Minister.

Conservative John Redwood, who has been the town's MP since 1987, has waded into the Tory leadership battle debate, ahead of the first round of voting tomorrow (Tuesday, July 5).

Those in the running to be the country's next PM, following David Cameron's resignation following the Brexit result, also include work and pensions minister, Stephen Crabb, justice secretary, Michael Gove, former defence secretary Liam Fox and the bookies' favourite, home secretary, Theresa May.

Writing on his blog, Mr Redwood, wrote: "On Tuesday I will vote for Andrea Leadsom. Her message is fresh and exciting. Behind it lies a lifetime of business and political experience.

"In recent months she has shown she is a woman of principle, placing the UK’s interests before her own, campaigning for a cause that was unfashionable in the government she served. She did so with passion, with dignity and with effectiveness. Those are the qualities I look for in our next Prime Minister.

"I like her vision of a global UK, looking outward to the wider world. To do that well the UK needs to regain her vote and voice on international bodies the EU took us off. We need to have a fair migration system with the same rules for Europe as the rest of the world. We need to be able to spend our own money on our own priorities.

"She understands that we need a speedy and smooth transition from EU subsidiary state to an independent UK. She recognises that there are many who want to make it complex. At its heart is a simple legislative act, to reassert UK control over our laws, borders and money. The faster we do that, and the more we reassure our former partners that we do not wish to impede their trade with us, the better."

He added that from his own experience as a former single market minister, much of his time was 'used up opposing needless regulations, or seeking to amend clumsy laws'.

He went on: "As a business woman Andrea understands this. She wants to see more business success, not less. She wants more investment and more opportunities for UK students and employees.

"She wants the prosperity that business can bring to percolate through every part of our country. She is driven by a charitable wish to help those in need, and by an ambition to offer more opportunity and prosperity to the many."