But that future now belongs to May, and it involves instability, uncertainty and tough wrangling over Britain’s departure from the European Union.
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May, who is often described as a “reluctant Remainer” because she opposed Brexit but did not really participate in the referendum campaign, appointed several eurosceptic and “Brexiteers” in her cabinet.
British Prime Minister Theresa May filled out her Cabinet posts Thursday, assembling a government that sweeps away many of her predecessor’s supporters and places strongly anti-EU figures in key worldwide roles.
Mrs May became Britain’s second woman prime minister on Wednesday (July 13), after Mr David Cameron stepped down.
“I know because we’re Great Britain, that we will rise to the challenge”.
Three weeks after the shock vote for “Brexit”, May’s government faces the complex task of extricating Britain from the 28-nation European Union while trying to protect the economy from feared disruption to confidence, trade and investment.
The libertarian Davis – a former special forces reservist who boasts that he has broken his nose five times – has sparred with May for years over the powers of Britain’s spy agencies, which she oversaw as home secretary and he thinks are too intrusive.
In phone talks with German chancellor Angela Merkel, French president Francois Hollande and Irish prime minister Enda Kenny, she said the United Kingdom would “need some time to prepare” for Brexit negotiations.
The BBC’s Rob Watson tells Here & Now’s Jeremy Hobson that one of her main tasks as prime minister will be to help Britain exit from the European Union.
She added she hoped the talks “could be conducted in a constructive and positive spirit”, according to her office.
Her new role as secretary of state for environment, food and rural affairs represents a promotion from her previous job as junior energy minister, but lands her the hard task of delivering on funding promises made to the farming community during the referendum campaign. He replaces George Osborne, whose determination to balance Britain’s books made him synonymous with austerity.
Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong has written to congratulate British Prime Minister Theresa May on her appointment. Other cabinet members Oliver Letwin, John Whittingdale, and Nicky Morgan also left. Fox, another prominent Euroskeptic, will be secretary of state for worldwide trade.
Kay Smith, 69, Stogursey “I have enormous faith in her, she is a tremendous leader, and I know she didn’t want to leave the European Union, but I am sure she will do the best job she can”. Royal officials released a photo of May curtseying to the monarch and confirmed the queen had “requested her to form a new administration”.
By awarding such a senior job to Johnson, she also showed a conciliatory side. The two had clashed over policing in London while Johnson was serving as mayor. And since last month’s vote, for which he campaigned vigorously, Johnson had suffered widespread criticism and ridicule for failing to present a clear Brexit plan and swiftly dropping out of the leadership race.
Last week in the European Parliament, European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker said that Johnson was part of a group of “retro-nationalists … not patriots”.
Davis will be responsible for negotiating Britain’s withdrawal from the bloc with European leaders while former defense secretary Liam Fox was given a newly-created global trade ministry.
Among other appointments, rising star Amber Rudd switched from the energy ministry to take May’s old job as Home Secretary.
“That will be the mission of the government I lead, and together we will build a better Britain”.
“It means we believe in the union, the precious, precious bond between England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, but it means something else that is just as important”.
Mrs Thatcher entered Downing Street determined to spread prosperity through wealth creation and was rewarded with three general election victories. Brexit! When do we want it?
“As I once said, I was the future once”, Cameron noted, as his wife and children watched from the public gallery.
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“And as we leave for the last time, my only wish is continued success for this great country that I love so very much”.
