Cameron also gave all but a guarantee to European Union citizens living in Britain that they would not be forced to leave the country when Britain leaves the bloc.
Advertisement
A few hours later, as Mrs May stood outside Number 10 Downing Street, there came a different message from Europe, as Jean-Claude Juncker, president of the European Commission urged the new prime minister to get on with taking Britain out of the EU. The first was Mrs Margaret Thatcher who was popularly known as the “Iron Lady” because of the tough stance she took against striking mine workers.
With Mrs May at the helm of British politics and the more than likely election of Mrs Hilary Clinton as President of the United States this coming November, women will be in the driver’s seat in three of the world’s largest and most powerful economies, the other being Germany which also has a female head in the person of Mrs Angela Merkel.
“We are living through an important moment in our country’s history”, May said after she officially became prime minister.
Robert Buckland said: “I’ve been a strong supporter of Theresa May so I’m delighted”. She is then expected to make her first official speech as British Prime Minister outside the same famous black door in London later on Wednesday evening.
By awarding such a senior job to Johnson, analysts say May is trying to mend fences insider her party, which was ripped apart by the Brexit vote, and forced former Conservative Party leader David Cameron to resign as prime minister, making way for May’s rise.
May will later visit the palace, where the queen will ask her to form a new government.
Former Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond was named Treasury chief, ousting George Osborne, a strong “remain” voice in the referendum.
The 59-year-old former Home Secretary formally succeeded David Cameron just before 6pm when she was invited by the Queen to form the next government.
While the selection of pro-Brexit campaign leader Boris Johnson as foreign minister dismayed some, Mr Hammond was seen as a good choice as chancellor of the exchequer.
The normally raucous prime minister’s questions turned into a friendly session Wednesday when Cameron was praised for helping to reduce unemployment, fund the National Health Service, and improve educational opportunities.
Britain’s Prime Minister David Cameron, his wife Samantha and their children Nancy, Florence and Elwen, from left, leave 10 Downing Street, in London, Wednesday, July 13, 2016.
Mr Cameron told The Daily Telegraph it had been “a privilege to serve the country I love”.
He’d got one big thing wrong – the referendum on leaving the European Union, on which he gambled and lost.
He was greeted with a rapturous standing ovation from his own MPs and with applause from all sides of the Commons.
Secretary of State John Kerry called Johnson to congratulate him and “stressed USA support for a sensible and measured approach to the Brexit process”, the State Department said.
Advertisement
Cameron said it was the “greatest honour” of his life to serve as prime minister.
