BRACKNELL'S MP has backed Theresa May in the battle to become the next Tory leader after David Cameron's resignation last week. 

Dr Phillip Lee, MP for the constituency since 2010, has expressed his support for the Home Secretary and Maidenhead MP in her leadership bid following Cameron's resignation in the wake of the EU referendum result.

In a Tweet posted at around 5pm today (Wednesday) Dr Lee said the country needed someone "of substance" to lead "through challenging times".

Mrs May is a frontrunner in the contest against former London Mayor Boris Johnson.

Nominations for the leadership began on Wednesday and will close Thursday ahead of a first round of voting next Tuesday. 

Dr Lee's support for May comes just two days after he urged the Conservative's 1922 Committee Chairman Graham Brady not to rush into a decision over the party's future and suggested a leadership contest should take place one month after the Tory conference in September, rather than before it.

In a letter to Mr Brady, Dr Lee said it was not an exaggeration to say Britain faced it's most serious crisis for many decades.

He added: "It is imperitive that the selection of the next Prime Minister of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is seen by the public to be measured and serious, rather than irresponsibly rushed."