Labour, Liberal Democrats, and Greens have been united in calling for an early General Election after the “coronation” of Theresa May as the next Tory party leader and prime minister.

Earlier, May became the de facto winner of the Tory leadership race after top Brexiteer Andrea Leadsom quit, claiming that a nine-week Tory leadership campaign was not in the best interest of the country.

May will now assume the leadership of the Tory party and become the next prime minister, but will not have won a mandate for her plans for for the UK after the dramatic Brexit vote on 23 June. As Leadsom pulled out of the race, May also has no mandate to lead from Tory party members.

Calling for a snap election, Labour’s Election Co-ordinator, Jon Trickett MP, said:

“It now looks likely that we are about to have the coronation of a new Conservative Prime Minister.

“It is crucial, given the instability caused by the Brexit vote, that the country has a democratically elected Prime Minister.

“I am now putting the whole of the party on a General Election footing.

“It is time for the Labour Party to unite and ensure the millions of people in the country left behind by the Tories’ failed economic policies, have the opportunity to elect a Labour government.”

Liberal Democrat leader Tim Farron also called for a snap election so that the government that leads the UK through the Brexit negotiations will have a mandate from the British public. He said:

“Just 13 months after the last election the Conservatives have plunged the UK into chaos. It is simply inconceivable that Theresa May should be crowned Prime Minister without even having won an election in her own party, let alone the country.

“There must be an election. The Conservatives must not be allowed to ignore the electorate, their mandate is shattered and lies in ruins.

“Britain deserves better than this Tory stitch up.

“May has not set out an agenda, and has no right to govern. She has not won an election and the public must have their say.

“From her time as Home Secretary we know she is divisive, illiberal and calculating.”

Green MP Caroline Lucas echoed the calls from other oposition leaders, saying:

“In light of withdrawal of Andrea Leadsom, case for early General Election clearer than ever. Must not be a Prime Ministerial coronation.”

Back in 2007, Theresa May complained that Gordon Brown lacked a “democratic mandate” when he became prime minister without a general election after the resignation of Tony Blair. She said:

“Whenever Gordon Brown chooses to call a general election, we will be ready for him. He has no democratic mandate. He has a reputation tainted by his failures after a decade in office. And he has no new ideas. An early election? Bring it on.”

However, in launching her leadership campaign, May pledged that there would be no general election until 2020.