IT is 26 years since Britain had a female Prime Minister.

Following a turbulent few weeks which has seen the country prepare to leave the European Union following the referendum which led to the resignation of Prime Minister, David Cameron, Britain is now welcoming its lady Prime Minister - the second in the UK’s political history.

Theresa May will follow in the footsteps of Margaret Thatcher, Britain’s first female Prime Minister, and, as she prepares to draw up her new top team, which could increase the number of women in Government, she will no doubt be mindful of the tough task ahead.

Steering the country through the departure from the European Union will be a challenging task in itself, but for many, there is no doubt Theresa May is the right woman for the job.

The appointment of a female Prime Minister is certainly welcome news to some of Bradford’s high profile women including the Rev Ruth Yeoman who, as a member of the General Synod supported the opportunity for women to become Bishops in the Church of England.

Ruth, Bradford Episcopal Area Adviser for Women’s Ministry and vicar of Menston Parish church, says: “We want our parliament to reflect the nation and to reflect the population, half of whom are women. It is really good women are building Parliament and have a greater balance of men and women working together to create the best possible Government for us as people.”

And Ruth believes she is the best person for the job:”At this point Theresa May has gained really good experience working in the Home Office and she has been there for six years which is a considerable length of time.

“She has faced some really serious challenges there and I think that will stand her in good stead when she takes on the role of Prime Minister.”

Ruth says she believes it is important for women in senior leadership to face some important challenges to help them develop the capacity to deal with situations. “And I think Theresa May has done that and she has proved herself across some really difficult times in the Home Office and I think it seems as if she is somebody who has the quality and character.”

She says Theresa May is described as a ‘cool and calm’ person within the Home Office which, she adds, can be quite a busy and frenetic place.

“She is able to see and reflect on things clearly and she will bring the capacity in terms of negotiating and team building,” says Ruth.

She believes Theresa May will build a team that will ‘deliver a good Government’ at a really challenging time and that she will also acknowledge the Brexit vote.

“I am sure she will do her level best to work with that and bring about the best resolution and the best pathway forward,” says Ruth.

Bradford businesswoman, Terry King, who was awarded the OBE for her 20-year career as a top project manager in the Department for Work and Pensions and is now using her previous experience working in the mature enterprise sector to support the needs and aspirations of older people through Chapter 3 Enterprise, a community interest company she and her partners are busy developing, says for her the issue isn’t about gender but politics and whether Theresa May will deliver what she says she will deliver.

“She was talking about the country not just for the privileged but for everybody and that is the most important fact. The fact she is a woman isn’t relative,” says Terry.

She says her feelings generally about women who are in charge are that they tend to be more collaborative; are willing to listen to other people and their opinions and aren’t wanting to take all the credit.

Terry says she hopes Theresa May will be a ‘unifying force’ “and she will use her feminine characteristics to take us forward.

Pensioners champion, Jean Walker, founder of Bradford and District Senior Power, says: “I think we should be looking for more women in some of these roles because may be they have more understanding and have a bit more of a compassionate side, although she will have to be a strong woman.”

Jean says Theresa May has been a ‘good Home Secretary’ and has great experience. “I think it may be like a breath of fresh air and may be we need that, but I do hope it is not the same old rhetoric.

“I think they have got to realise that we are not just comfortably off, there are people who are not comfortably off and we have got to look at looking after people. We have to show we are caring,” says Jean.