Incoming prime minister Theresa May is a tough, hard-working pragmatist who now has the task of uncoupling Britain from the European Union, and of uniting her country and her party.
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Buckingham Palace has released an image of May offering a deep curtsey before the monarch, denoting that she has accepted the queen’s invitation to form a government.
Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel added his voice to those pleading for a speedy start to the Brexit procedure, following three weeks of financial and political turmoil triggered by the vote.
This conflicts with the message from new chancellor Philip Hammond, who suggested as Foreign Secretary, that it could take six years for Britain to depart.
Clearly now we have a massive opportunity in this country to make a great success of our relationship with Europe and with the world and I’m very excited to be asked to play a part in that.
There was also the unlikeliness of making Johnson – who has a history of insulting foreign leaders and overseas gaffes – Britain’s chief diplomat.
Meanwhile The Times said Britain was at a “turning point”, with its wealth, stability and identity all at stake.
He said: “If we have failed, it was to have allowed a member to take the European project hostage in a unilateral way”.
And she appointed Amber Rudd as home secretary, the role May herself has occupied for six years.
Michael Fallon will remain defence secretary, Downing Street said today.
May appointed David Davis to a newly-created secretary of state role in which he will manage Britain’s exit from the European Union.
But she kept a low profile, emerging relatively unscathed after the vote and presenting herself as the leader who could unify a nation deeply split by the referendum.
May spoke via telephone on Wednesday evening with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, French President Francois Hollande and Irish Prime Minister Enda Kenny, Efe news reported.
Just hours after entering Number 10 Downing Street, Mrs May made a raft of changes to her Cabinet, with a number of sackings and promotions made.
In a direct message to voters, she said: “I know you are working around the clock, I know you are doing your best and I know that sometimes life can be a struggle”.
May has told European leaders she is committed to the United Kingdom leaving the EU.
“Leadership issue settled, now I expect we work quickly to deliver certainty”, he said.
12pm: The Bank of England may cut interest rates to 0.25% in a bid to bolster the post-Brexit economy.
Johnson’s first cabinet job – was widely unexpected given the pair’s clashes over the years.
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Larry was adopted from Battersea Dogs and Cats home to help scare mice and rats away from Downing Street.
