The decision to make Johnson foreign minister was a “sign of the political crisis” in the United Kingdom following the Brexit vote, Jean-Marc Ayrault said in a radio interview.
Advertisement
EU president Donald Tusk was among the first to congratulate Mrs May, who will have the tricky task of overseeing her country’s departure from the European Union.
Liam Fox will be taking up the newly formed post of International Trade minister, a position that reflects the need to build stronger trade ties with non-EU countries such as China and India after the Brexit vote.
She fired heavyweight Secretary of State for Education Michael Gove who had sought Tory leadership, Education Secretary Nicky Morgan, and Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne. With his successor Theresa May sat beside him, Cameron told MPs: “I will watch these exchanges from the backbenches, I will miss the roar of the crowd, I will miss the barbs from the opposition, but I will be willing you on”. May backed “remain” but has given several top government posts to supporters of a British exit from the European Union, or Brexit.
The shock vote partly reflected discontent with European Union rules on freedom of movement that have contributed to record-high immigration – an issue on which Mrs May, as interior minister for the past six years, is politically vulnerable.
Michael Gove, May’s one-time rival for the prime minister’s role who campaigned to leave the European Union alongside Johnson, was sacked as the justice secretary Thursday. She had held the post of home secretary, dealing with security and terrorism, since 2010, the longest run of any home secretary in half a century. He has criticized British spies’ snooping powers for being too intrusive.
Johnson, London’s popular former mayor, helped the “leave” campaign win last month’s referendum. Among other appointments, rising star Amber Rudd switched from the energy ministry to take May’s old job as Home Secretary.
Britain’s new prime minister Theresa May is expected to announce further appointments to her cabinet today.
Another survivor of the cull is Jeremy Hunt, who has been retained as health secretary despite all the controversies he stirred in his confrontation with junior doctors.
Johnson was one of the leaders of the campaign to leave the European Union. But he accused May of putting a desire to unite her deeply divided Conservative party ahead of concerns about Britain’s future.
Yet his legacy will be overshadowed by his failed referendum gamble, which he had hoped would keep Britain at the heart of a reformed EU. That will go to a dedicated “minister for Brexit”.
David Cameron said being prime minister was “the greatest honour of my life” as he left Downing Street for the last time yesterday.
A Kremlin statement Wednesday said Putin thanked Cameron for cooperation and quoted him as saying “I hope that your rich political experience will be in demand in the future, both in the United Kingdom and in the worldwide community”.
Writing in the Sun newspaper, Mr Davis said: “I expect the new Prime Minister to trigger a round of global trade deals with all our most favoured partners – and the negotiation of most within between 12 and 24 months”.
A statement from Netanyahu’s Office yesterday said he sent a letter to Mrs.
She also spoke to U.S. President Barack Obama, underlining Britain’s commitment to sustaining the countries’ “special relationship” and partnership on intelligence-sharing.
Advertisement
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.
