Theresa May pledges 'serious social reform' in major break from Cameron and Osborne amid growing pressure to call snap election

·  Theresa May makes clear pitch for centre-ground of British politics   

·  She will be appointed new PM after Andrea Leadsom pulls out of contest 

·  May vows to 'bring people back together' in Britain when she becomes PM

·  Pledges new laws and promises to stand up for ordinary workers

·  PM-elect dismisses fears over the EU, declaring: 'Brexit means Brexit'  

·  Changes show her determination to be candidate who can reunite country 

·  Also intend to show that Mrs May can reach out to blue-collar workers

·  Opposition parties unite to demand an election due to lack of contest  

Theresa May pledged to deliver 'serious social reform' in a major break from David Cameron's premiership as she was handed the keys to Number 10 by Andrea Leadsom's dramatic decision to pull out of the Tory leadership contest.

The Home Secretary, who could be prime minister within days, made a clear pitch for the centre-ground of British politics as she set out her 'bold, new, positive vision for the future of our country'. 

And she dismissed any fears that as someone who campaigned for Britain to stay in the EU she would seek to dilute the terms of withdrawing from the EU, declaring: 'Brexit means Brexit'.  

In a speech in Birmingham Mrs May promised new laws to block fat cat pay and bonuses as she promises to stand up for ordinary workers. 

She was speaking just an hour before her leadership rival Mrs Leadsom announced she was dropping out of the race. 

Despite saying earlier this month she would not call a general election before 2020, Mrs May is coming under increasing pressure to change tack now there won't be a leadership contest.  

She is under particular pressure because of comments she made when Gordon Brown took over from Tony Blair in 2007. 

Mrs May said he had 'no democratic mandate' and must call a general election, declaring the Tories were 'ready for him,' adding: 'Bring it on'. 

Labour, the Lib Dems and the Green party have already demanded Mrs May hold an election in the autumn, saying it was 'crucial' the country has a 'democratically elected prime minister'. 

 In her speech this morning Mrs May also vowed to give consumers and staff seats on company boards in a bid to crack down on 'corporate irresponsibility'.

The changes are intended to show Mrs May can reach out to the blue-collar workers who were the bedrock of Margaret Thatcher's electoral success.

They also show her determination to be the candidate who can reunite the country as well as the Tory party. 

Launching the second phase of her bid for No 10 minutes before Mrs Leadsom dropped out, she vowed to build a Britain 'that works for everyone – not just the privileged few'. 

Mrs May said she hopes to 'bring people back together – rich and poor, north and south ... young and old, male and female, black and white'.