MP Peter Lilley has backed Andrea Leadsom for Prime Minster, branding Theresa May as "indecisive".

The Conservative MP for Hitchin and Harpenden says Mrs Leadsom is the one candidate who meets the criteria and is experienced in "the complexities of the European issues".

Mr Lilley is publicly backing Mrs Leadsom, who is Under-Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change since 2015 and a former Economic Secretary to the Treasury, for Prime Minister.

In a statement, Mr Lilley said: “It is crucial that the winner of the Conservative Party leadership contest is someone who is decisive, determined and experienced in business and the complexities of the European issues so that they can press ahead straight away.

"To my mind, the one candidate who meets all those criteria is Andrea Leadsom, who has the bonus of being popular across the party, which she will need to unite.”

Mr Lilley praised Theresa May for her strengths but mentioned her "reputation for indecision", which he believes was "exemplified by her inability to make up her mind decisively on the greatest issue of the day: our membership of the EU".

Leave campaigner Mr Lilley has been under fire recently for being out of touch with his constituents, after 2,250 people signed a petition calling for him and St Albans MP Anne Main to stand down.

Results show that 63 per cent of St Albans residents voted to Remain in the European Union election on June 23, while both MPs supported the Leave campaign.