New UK Conservative leader expected to be announced by late July

The result of the contest to find anewleaderof theConservativeParty to replace Theresa May as British prime minister isexpectedto beannouncedbefore Parliament breaks for its summer holiday, the party said on Friday.

May earlierannouncedshe would step down asConservativeleaderon June 7 to trigger a contest to replace her, and party bosses said nominations would close in the week beginning June 10.

"Successive rounds of voting will take place until a final choice of candidates to put to a vote of all party members is determined," seniorConservativefigures said in a statement.

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"We expect that process to be concluded by the end of June, allowing for a series of hustings around theUKfor members to meet and question the candidates, then cast their votes in time for the result to beannouncedbefore parliament rises for the summer."

Parliament usually breaks for the summer inlateJuly.