David Graham laughed when he heard that former London Mayor Boris Johnson would become the foreign secretary of the UK. And the media that had been writing Johnson’s political obituary just days before, as I had done, had to refashion the thoughts into a new résumé.
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One former ambassador said Britain’s new foreign minister – a “big figure, full of showmanship” – would need to become much more disciplined in future.
He also described President Obama as “the part-Kenyan President” who harboured “ancestral dislike of the British empire”.
The French and German foreign ministers respectively called him “a liar with his back to the wall” and someone whose behaviour has been “monstrous”.
“Now, it’s him with his back against the wall to defend his country and to clarify his relationship with Europe”.
John Kerry, the US Secretary of State, spoke to Mr Johnson by phone today and urged Britain to be “sensible”.
Andrea Leadsom, former minister of state at the department of energy and climate change, was named as secretary of state for environment, food and rural affairs, giving her a major job in May’s Downing Street cabinet.
Ahead of last month’s referendum on European Union membership, Johnson compared the bloc’s aims with those of Adolf Hitler.
Germany’s influential Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble, however, signaled a willingness to forget past statements by Johnson. “She’s trying to show us that she can think in a way that’s refreshing, that she will do what she wants and put her own stamp on government”. You know it’s honest because of the crying face.
Writing in the London Evening Standard, columnist Simon Jenkins said May will have no option but to take account of the clamour in “the city” – the London-based United Kingdom financial sector – for the United Kingdom to preserve as close a relationship with Europe as possible.
Lew added said he has been “encouraged that there have been very pragmatic views expressed” in his meetings in Europe.
“There will be “Remainers” at the top of government”, he wrote in a commentary, noting that May’s new Finance Minister Philip Hammond campaigned alongside her to stay in the EU.
May’s clashes as Home Secretary with Cameron’s Europhile Chancellor George Osborne – who repeatedly blocked her moves to curb immigration – were also well known.
Justine Greening, formerly in charge of global development, is now education secretary and minister for women and equalities.
May, 59, on Wednesday replaced David Cameron as prime minister and head of the Conservative Party.
Of Mr Johnson’s many indiscretions, the worst, arguably, was deliberate and gratuitous.
Conservative Party Protégé Amber Rudd is the markets second favourite at 5/2. “But now there are completely different political tasks in the foreground”.
“It’s not only in London’s interest, it’s in the interest of the European Union as well”.
Chris Grayling, who ran May’s leadership campaign, has also won a cabinet role as Secretary of State for Transport.
May is expected to name a raft of new ministers on Thursday.
Meanwhile the French president, François Hollande, has repeated his call for Theresa May to begin Britain’s exit from the European Union as fast as possible.
He says it’s clear the “upcoming negotiations will not be easy” but said it’s “the responsibility of both sides to make the process of Britain’s withdrawal as smooth as possible”.
Speaking just before Johnson was appointed, Steinmeier said: “It is bitter for Britain”.
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Hammond was due to meet Bank of England governor Mark Carney Thursday, as well as visiting US Treasury Secretary Jacob Lew. Within hours she had blown up that image with one of the most comprehensive Cabinet reshuffles in living memory. This includes the preparation of derivative works of, or the incorporation of such content into other works. News stories displayed here appear in our category for Business and are licensed via a specific agreement between LongIsland.com and The Associated Press, the world’s oldest and largest news organization. Doing so may result in civil and/or criminal penalties.
