After a startlingly swift transfer of power that made her Britain’s prime minister, Theresa May took charge of a new government on Wednesday, vowing to honor the referendum to leave the European Union and naming Boris Johnson, the former London mayor who had been widely considered politically dead, as foreign minister.
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She arrived at the Palace by ministerial vehicle, having set off from the House of Commons only after receiving the signal that Mr Cameron’s resignation had been accepted by the Queen and that he had advised her to appoint Mrs May in his place.
Theresa has been home secretary for the last 6 years – she’s the longest serving politician in the role for more than 50 years.
He replaces George Osborne, who resigned from the Government, a Downing Street spokesperson said. She also created new positions to lead Britain’s upcoming negotiations with the European Union.
Cameron arrived at the palace in a police-escorted convoy with his wife Samantha and their children.
THERESA May is our new Prime Minister.
Queen Elizabeth II invited Conservative Party leader May to form a new government in an audience at Buckingham Palace shortly after David Cameron tendered his resignation to the monarch. From the introduction of same sex marriage, to taking people on low wages out of income tax altogether, David Cameron has led a “one nation” government, and it is in that spirit that I also plan to lead. If he were granted one wish, he said, it would be the “continued success of this great country that I love so very much”.
He even managed to quit with classic English charm, thanks to one of those live-mic moments: After announcing Monday that he’d be leaving Wednesday, he walked back into 10 Downing St. humming a little ditty – then, once inside, told himself, “Right”.
Though she was in the Remain camp in the referendum, like Mr Cameron, Mrs May has said there can be no going back on Brexit.
“Following the referendum, we face a time of great national change and I know because we are Great Britain, we will rise to the challenge”, May said outside the prime minister’s Downing Street office.
Meanwhile, in her first address as Prime Minister, May said that the mission of her government is to forge a positive role for United Kingdom in the world as it leaves the European Union.
Along with overseeing European Union negotiations, May will need to unite a nation deeply divided over the referendum where 52% voted to leave and 48% to remain.
Now that she is prime minister, May will learn the details of Britain’s nuclear deterrent and has started to receive congratulatory phone calls from fellow world leaders.
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The removal vans were already parked outside Downing Street by the time he left the House of Commons with others waiting to move Mrs May in.
