At 5.30pm, Buckingham palace announced that Queen Elizabeth II had accepted David Cameron’s resignation.
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“You have kept me vaguely sane”.
Britain’s new Prime Minister Theresa May said in her first speech as head of the British government Wednesday that her mission will be to lead a “One Nation” government.
Earlier in the day, Cameron made his final appearance in the House of Commons, where he received a standing ovation for his performance after six years in the job.
May, 59, has become the second female British prime minister after Margaret Thatcher, who served in office from 1979-90.
Al Jazeera’s Barnaby Phillips, reporting from London, said that May was disadvantaged because she did not have much time to form her cabinet.
Key is London where Theresa May is counting down to taking over from Conservative Party leader David Cameron. Then the newly elected Conservative Opposition leader, he taunted embattled Labour Prime Minister Tony Blair: “I want to talk about the future”.
Her speech was focused on inclusion, as she promised to fight against “burning injustice”, citing the difficulties of young white working class men in getting a place at university, black Britons when they need to use the criminal justice system, women in the workplace, mental health patients and young people who hope to own their own homes.
David Cameron had resigned the post in an earlier meeting with the queen.
The weeks that followed the European Union referendum on June 23 have been unlike any that political commentators have ever seen – the resignation of David Cameron, two party leadership contests and now, the arrival of Theresa May in Downing Street.
Often called the “British Merkel” and compared to the German chancellor, she insisted that her government will make a success of Brexit and forge a bold and positive role for Britain at the worldwide stage. “I appreciate the maturity of judgment, the steely resolve, the sense of justice and the personal integrity and warmth you have always shown”.
He emerged from the palace at around half past five.
“I came into Downing Street to confront our problems as a country and lead people through hard decisions so that together we could reach better times”, Cameron told the Telegraph in an article published Wednesday. But The Sun said Cameron had been “undone by his Olympian overconfidence”, while the Guardian called him a “prime minister of broken promises”.
In addition to a new leadership team, Ms. May created two new Cabinet posts – Mr. Davis’ EU job and a new secretary of state for global trade, to be filled by former defense secretary and “Leave” supporter Liam Fox.
“As I leave for the last time my only wish is continued success for this very great country that I love so very much”.
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She is expected to quickly unveil a new Cabinet lineup, including a minister in charge of implementing Brexit.
