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Theresa May becomes UK’s second female prime minister; forms new cabinet

Putting crucial global portfolios firmly in the hands of Brexit supporters was perhaps an astute move for May, who had argued, tepidly, for Britain to remain in the EU.

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And I know because we’re Great Britain, that we will rise to the challenge.

May has told European leaders she is committed to the United Kingdom leaving the EU.

In a speech on Monday, she said she was “honored and humbled” to be chosen as the next PM and that her campaign had always been about the need for strong leadership in “what is sure to be hard and uncertain economic and political times”. “If I’m going to be able to do that then she has to make the process open and flexible”.

Boris Johnson was appointed Foreign Secretary on Wednesday night as Theresa May reached out to Brexiteers in an attempt to reshape Britain’s role in the world.

Britain’s new prime minister Theresa May is expected to announce further appointments to her cabinet today.

It added that Kerry and Johnson agreed that the special relationship between their countries “is as essential as ever”.

When asked by a Sky News reporter whether he planned to apologise to US President Barack Obama for controversially saying the “part-Kenyan” president was biased against Britain because of “an ancestral dislike of the British empire”, Mr Johnson quipped: “The United States of America will be in the front of the queue”. He has been given the job by new Prime Minister Theresa May, who backed the losing “remain” side ahead of the referendum.

Cameron, who stepped down after his campaign to remain in the European Union lost last month’s referendum, had earlier congratulated May as he left No 10 for the last time as PM with his wife and children.

One of May’s first decisions will be on when she plans to trigger Article 50, the formal procedure for withdrawal from the European Union, which would set a two-year deadline for completing exit negotiations. She is Britain’s first female lord chancellor.

Philip Hammond became chancellor, Amber Rudd is home secretary, and Eurosceptic David Davis is new Brexit secretary.

Wednesday also was David Cameron’s final day as the head of the British government.

While Mr Gove and Mr Osborne crashed out, Mr Johnson landed on his feet, being named foreign minister in one of Ms May’s first choices, which stunned observers at home and overseas. But completely different political tasks now stand at the forefront: “this is about taking foreign policy responsibility beyond Brexit”.

Meanwhile The Times said Britain was at a “turning point”, with its wealth, stability and identity all at stake.

Addressing the waiting media before heading to Buckingham Palace, Cameron sought to paint a positive picture of his time in office, despite it ending suddenly after the European Union referendum result.

We are living through an important moment in our country’s history.

Hammond said Thursday that there will be no emergency budget to deal with the economic fallout from Brexit.

She is the 54th holder of the office of prime minister since it was created in the 18th century.

High-profile Brexit campaigner Priti Patel took Ms Greening’s old job while former energy minister Andrea Leadsom, another “Leave” proponent who was Ms May’s last rival for leader to throw in the towel on Monday, moved to environment and food.

May won the leadership battle and quickly sacked Gove, who is now seen as treacherous by many Conservatives.

The surprise choice drew a withering response from French Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault, who described the former London mayor as a liar.

“There is a massive difference between leaving the European Union and our relations with Europe, which if anything I think are going to be intensified and built up at an intergovernmental level”, he said.

Juergen Hardt said that “free access to the common market means, among other things, accepting other fundamental freedoms such as the freedom of movement”. He angered and frustrated many Brits who voted to remain, along with other European leaders who believe Britain made a great mistake.

Still, Hardt suggests: “Britain remaining in the European Union should also be an option for the new government – it would be better for Great Britain and the rest of the European Union”.

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He called his six years as prime minister the “greatest honor” of his life.

Theresa May becomes Britain's new prime minister