Preseli Pembrokeshire MP Stephen Crabb has confirmed his bid to become Prime Minister at a press conference in London this morning (Wednesday).

During the conference he said: “I love my country, I love my party and I genuinely believe the values I represent and strengths I have are what is needed.

“I believe in a society where it shouldn't matter what street you grew up on. I came into politics to do my bit to break down the barriers to opportunity.

“I was brought up to understand that nothing gets handed to you on a plate...if you want it, you do what's required.

“This is the time for modern, compassionate, reforming Conservatives.”

He also confirmed there would be no second referendum by saying: “There is a duty on all of us now to get on and work together and deliver on the referendum result.

On Scotland he added: “A United Kingdom without Scotland is not a United Kingdom, a Great Britain without Scotland, is not Great Britain.”

The former Tasker Milward pupil announced his intention earlier today in an article in the Daily Telegraph, and is the first candidate to officially bid to be the next PM.

In the article, the Work and Pensions Secretary said: “The government I intend to lead will choose … a path of optimism and pragmatism, which, I believe, will lead Britain to better days.

“I want to lead a government that delivers on the expectations of the 17 million people who voted for Britain to leave the EU.

"One of the overwhelming messages from that vote was the need to take back control of immigration policy in the UK. So for me, freedom of movement is a red line.

“We will enact the British people’s wishes on the EU. The verdict was clear: there is no going back.

"A second referendum is out of the question. What the country needs now is a clear direction, not further instability.”

Business Secretary Sajid Javid will run with Mr Crabb as his number two in a bid to become Chancellor, in what has been called a ‘blue-collar dream team’.

A Facebook page called 'Stephen Crabb for PM' has been set up and attracted more than 200 likes.

After Mr Crabb’s promotion to Work and Pensions Secretary in April, the MP was the subject of an online tirade of abuse regarding his apparent link to ‘gay cure organisation’ CARE (Christian Action Research and Education).

Mr Crabb told the Western Telegraph: “Within minutes of me being appointed there were people on social media saying ‘oh he’s got links to gay cure he must be homophobic’ and somebody had mocked up a picture of me with a quote reported to have come from me saying ‘being gay is a disease which needs a cure’ and that’s complete crap.

"I’ve never believed that and it’s not what I believe now.

“Whatever personal beliefs I have, religious or otherwise, homophobia is not a part of it and I don’t believe in gay cure therapy.

"Yes I’m a Christian, I’ve got very clear views on that but believing in gay cure therapies is not what I believe and has never been what I believe.”

Stephen Crabb, a profile:

• Born in Inverness, Scotland on January 20, 1973.

• Attended Fenton School, Haverfordwest and Tasker Milward School.

• Studies Politics at Bristol University, MBA at London Business School.

• Joined the Conservative Party upon leaving university, and took an unpaid post with Christian Action Research and Education as a parliamentary intern.

• First stood for Preseli Pembrokeshire in 2001, coming second to Labour’s Jackie Lawrence by 2,946 votes.

• Won the seat in 2005 with a majority of 607 against Labour candidate Sue Hayman, being the youngest member of the incoming Conservative MPs.

• Appointed a front bencher as Junior Whip in 2009.

• Retained his seat in 2010 General Election with a majority of 4,969.

• Promoted to Under-Secretary of State for Wales in 2012, before another promotion in 2014 to Secretary of State for Wales.

• In March 2016, was named as the replacement to Ian Duncan Smith as the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions.