When asked about how the role of Foreign Secretary might change after the creation of these new appointments, Mr Johnson said: “We will be working very closely, as you can imagine, with the new departments for worldwide trade and for the withdrawal from the EU”.
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In a Thursday phone call from Paris, Kerry and Johnson “agreed that the U.S. -U.K. special relationship is as essential as ever” and pledged to work together as North Atlantic Treaty Organisation allies in facing challenges.
On Monday, Johnson is expected to sit down in a formal day-long meeting with his EU peers, with issues on the agenda ranging from EU-China ties to migration policy in Africa.
Former Mayor of London and one of key Brexit supporters, Boris Johnson was appointed UK Foreign Secretary on July 13 by new Prime Minister Theresa May.
“On all the phone calls, the Prime Minister emphasised her commitment to delivering the will of the British people to leave the EU”.
Justine Greening, formerly in charge of global development, is now education secretary and minister for women and equalities. She is Britain’s first female lord chancellor.
Johnson’s first full day in his new office starts on Thursday.
He said Johnson must first apologize to Obama for referring to his “part-Kenyan” ancestry and then apologize to European Union leaders for saying their plans for Europe were similar to Hitler’s. And that seems to be the way that she and David Davis are leaning at the moment.
His appointment as foreign minister has raised concerns over his inexperience, as well as having a history of offensive outbursts and strong criticism of the European Union.
Now the remarkably undiplomatic Boris Johnson, his political career miraculously revived, has become Britain’s top diplomat.
Justice Secretary Michael Gove, who had challenged May in the Conservative Party leadership race, was among the first sackings announced on Thursday.
When Johnson returned to his London home after the appointment, a neighbor had placed a sign next to his house saying: “SORRY WORLD”. While Osborne’s exit came as less of a surprise, being a close Cameron aide, Johnson’s appointment as foreign secretary was more unexpected.
He said in the current climate he needed a “clear, credible and reliable” partner.
EU leaders, however, are pressuring Britain to open formal exit talks sooner – and warning that the United Kingdom can not have access to the single European market of 500 million people without accepting the free movement of EU citizens, a sticking point for many pro-Brexit Britons.
“It is in the hands of the new British government now to prepare the ground, so that the Great Britain and Europe can work on a common future despite the Brexit”, he stressed.
New British Treasury chief Hammond tried to sound a reassuring note Thursday, pledging that he would not introduce an emergency national budget – even though there are question marks hanging over the economy following the country’s decision to leave the EU.
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“Markets do need signals of reassurance, they need to know that we will do whatever is necessary to keep the economy on track”, Hammond said.
