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.
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The outgoing PM was given a standing ovation by Conservative MPs as he said his farewell with the comment “I was the future once” – a self-deprecating reminder of the jibe he directed at Tony Blair as the fresh-faced new Tory leader in 2005. “We have seen an effect in markets, we have seen business investment decisions being paused because businesses now want to take stock, want to understand how we will take forward our renegotiation with the EU, what our aspirations are for the future trading relationship between Britain and the European Union”.
Shortly afterwards, her office announced that Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond would become Finance Minister, replacing George Osborne whose determination to balance Britain´s books made him synonymous with austerity.
“The Prime Minister’s legacy will undoubtedly be that he has taken us to the brink of being taken out of the European Union, so we will not be applauding his premiership on these benches”, said Scots Nationalist MP Angus Robertson.
“Following the referendum [to leave the EU], we face a great national challenge”. In the June 23rd referendum on Britain’s membership in the European Union, 52% of voters expressed a desire to leave, having been given precious few details of what exactly that entailed or how it might be achieved.
May pledged to fight burning injustices saying: “We must make Britain a country that works for everyone”. She will also attempt to unite her divided Conservative party and a fractured nation in which many, on the evidence of the vote, feel angry with the political elite and left behind by the forces of globalisation.
“When it comes to taxes, we will prioritise not the wealthy, but you”.
Germany’s finance minister is signaling a willingness to forget past statements by Boris Johnson, Britain’s new foreign secretary. And since last month’s vote, for which he campaigned vigorously, Johnson had suffered widespread criticism and ridicule for failing to present a clear Brexit plan and swiftly dropping out of the leadership race.
She appointed former foreign secretary Philip Hammond to the Treasury job instead.
Among other appointments, rising star Amber Rudd switched from the energy ministry to take May’s old job as Home Secretary.
During these talks, the British leader stressed her commitment to delivering Brexit but “explained that we would need some time to prepare for these negotiations and spoke of her hope that these could be conducted in a constructive and positive spirit”, a Downing Street spokeswoman said. He has said that Article 50 of the European Union constitution – the formal trigger for two years of negotiations – should be invoked by the start of 2017.
“It has been the greatest honor of my life to serve our country as prime minister over these last six years, and to serve as leader of my party for nearly eleven years”, he said.
Minutes after meeting the Queen in Buckingham Palace, she directly addressed hard-working people and told them: “We will prioritise not the wealthy, but you”.
May campaigned for the leadership as a safe pair of hands, who has spent six years as home secretary, one of the toughest jobs in British politics.
She was a high-profile supporter of the Remain camp in the referendum.
Not all believe her. As May spoke in front of her new residence, a small band of pro-Brexit demonstrators down the street chanted “Theresa May, don’t delay!”
European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker urged May not to delay the start of the Brexit talks. “No one had a clue who I was until eventually someone said, ‘Hey!” “I think she’s a cautious person, and the British political establishment needs to come to terms with this massive decision”.
He said his government had cut the deficit, overseen economic growth and legalized same-sex marriage.
“I will miss the roar of the crowd”.
“Nothing is really impossible if you put your mind to it”, Cameron said.
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“Sadly I can’t take Larry with me, he belongs to the house and the staff love him very much, as do I”, he said, addressing mischievous social media gossip that the cat and Mr Cameron did not get on.
