WORCESTER’S MP has spoken of his delight at Britain being guaranteed a woman Prime Minister - calling it an “historic” moment.

Theresa May and Andrea Leadsom have emerged as the final two contenders after an historic day at Westminster yesterday, meaning the nation will get its first female PM since Margaret Thatcher left office 26 years ago.

The Home Secretary is still the overwhelming favourite to enter Downing Street, but the next Tory leader and premier will be chosen by around 130,000 grassroots party members.

Robin Walker, who backed Mrs May in both rounds of MPs’ voting, said: “I do think it’s a really historic moment.

“Not many countries have had one woman leader, never mind its second - it’s ironic that Labour have made a lot of noise about its all-woman shortlists but we’ve got one entirely on merit.

"I'm delighted about it and I'll carry on making the case very strongly for Theresa May as the right person for the party and the country."

In the final dramatic vote among Conservative MPs Mrs May got 199 votes, with Mrs Leadsom on 84 and Justice Secretary Michael Gove eliminated with just 46.

West Worcestershire MP Harriett Baldwin, a strong backer of the Home Secretary, went onto Twitter to joke about Ken Clarke’s unguarded comments this week calling Mrs May a “bloody difficult woman”.

She said: “I want a ‘bloody difficult woman’ in charge at this time.”

Mid-Worcestershire MP Nigel Huddleston said he was “delighted and proud that the next Prime Minister will be a woman”.

“I shall be backing Theresa May all the way,” he added.

Mrs Leadsom, a Brexit-backing energy minister, is poles apart from Mrs May and is firmly from the right of the party.

The 53-year-old ex-banker wants to abolish the minimum wage and maternity rights to help some very small firms, overturn the fox hunting ban and is opposed to gay marriage.

But there is a strong feeling the committed Christian will appeal to the more ‘small c’ conservative elements of the party, having made a name for herself during the referendum campaign where she helped lead Leave to victory.

Mrs May, 59, who has spent six years in the Home Office, said she wanted to use her thumping parliamentary mandate to “unite the party” and “make Britain a country that works not for the privileged few, but for everyone”.

Wyre Forest MP Mark Garnier is supporting Mrs May, while Bromsgrove’s Business Secretary Sajid Javid, who was backing Stephen Crabb as leader before he pulled out, has switched to do the same.

We exclusively revealed last week how Karen Lumley, who represents Redditch is backing Mrs Leadsom - you can see that article here.

Mr Crabb decided to abandon his pursuit of Number 10 to support Mrs May earlier this week, after finishing fourth from an initial five candidates in the first round of voting which saw Liam Fox eliminated.

A new Conservative leader and Prime Minister will be announced on September 9.