As Theresa May set her sights on the future, outgoing British Prime Minister David Cameron took the time to examine his past on his last moments in office.
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She is expected to quickly unveil a new Cabinet lineup, including a minister in charge of implementing Brexit, a British exit from the EU.
She is confronting strains on the continued existence of the United Kingdom as now constituted, with Scotland again agitating for independence and some republicans in Northern Ireland trying to use the “Brexit” vote to leave the European Union as reason to advance the cause of unification with Ireland. Although May backed remaining in the European Union, she has reassured “leave” supporters that “Brexit means Brexit, and we will make a success of it”.
But the decision to name Johnson, the eccentric former London mayor, to the high-profile post of representing Britain to the rest of the world is likely to cause controversy. Mr Johnson has been appointed British Foreign Minister.
It is not unusual for new political leaders appeal to the political centre and Mrs May is not the first Tory leader to embrace compassionate conservatism.
On a more serious note, Cameron said that he cared passionately about the United Kingdom, but added that “we need to make sure as we leave the European Union, how we keep the benefits of the common travel area”.
Mrs May arrived at the palace with her husband Philip, minutes after her predecessor David Cameron left with his family, having tendered his resignation to the Queen.
The monarch will then call on May, now the interior minister, to form a government and the newly-anointed prime minister will make a statement outside her new Downing Street residence. Theresa May then became Britain’s new leader, accepting an invitation to govern from Queen Elizabeth II. “As we leave the European Union we will forge a bold new positive role for ourselves in the world”.
Mr Key said he hoped to talk to the new leader in the coming days, and he also wished the best for Mr Cameron whom he said had become a very good friend.
Economists predicted in a Reuters poll that the Bank of England would halve its main interest rate to 0.25% on Thursday in a pre-emptive strike to try to ward off a recession and reassure markets.
Martin Trepte, editor of the Maidenhead Advertiser, the local newspaper, said: “She’s a mature, grown-up, no-nonsense politician”.
Russian President Vladimir Putin said he was ready for “constructive dialogue” with Britain’s new premier.
David Cameron formally offered his resignation to the Queen earlier after making a farewell speech outside Downing Street.
“It’s not been an easy journey and of course we’ve not got every decision right”, he said, “but I do believe that today our country is much stronger”.
Newspapers offered harsher judgments of a politician toppled by his decision to call a referendum on European Union membership – which he then lost. It was a gamble he lost when Britain voted to leave.
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Hours earlier, Cameron held his final Prime Minister’s Questions session in the House of Commons, the weekly grilling the prime minister faces from members of the political opposition, and occasionally from his or her own party.
