Speaking on BBC’s Any Questions, Lord Howard was the first member of the panel to answer the dramatic question from the audience: “What does Theresa May’s successor need to do to avoid being the last ever Conservative Prime Minister?” Lord Howard responded succinctly and without hesitation: “In a single sentence, he or she needs to deliver Brexit.” He added: “17.4 million people voted for us to leave the EU.

“They voted three years ago and they have every right to expect that Brexit would have been delivered by now.

“Now, of course we know there are many reasons why it hasn’t been delivered.

“But it’s not surprising that they hold the government responsible for the fact that it hasn’t happened.

“I think it can be done and in a sensible way.

“But if the Conservative government does not deliver Brexit then i think we are in for a really rude shock.”

Theresa May has ended her turbulent reign as Tory leader as rivals to replace her step up their campaigns.

The low-key resignation saw Mrs May write to the joint acting chairmen of the backbench Conservative 1922 Committee, Charles Walker and Dame Cheryl Gillan, confirming the announcement she made a fortnight ago in Downing Street.

She will remain Prime Minister until Tory MPs and members complete the process of choosing her successor in late July.

Mrs May spent her last day as Tory leader in her Maidenhead constituency, with the Peterborough by-election defeat a stark illustration of the difficulties she has faced and which will now trouble her successor.

Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt, one of the 11 declared candidates in the race to replace her, has also warned there would be “no future” for the party unless Brexit is resolved.

Boris Johnson, the bookmakers’ favourite to replace Mrs May, has said that unless the UK’s withdrawal from the European Union is completed by October 31, an election would see Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn in Downing Street.

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