Theresa May came under immediate pressure Thursday on her first full day as Britain’s new prime minister after a series of surprise appointments to her cabinet, including the gaffe-prone Boris Johnson as foreign minister.
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May had a phone call late Wednesday with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who invited her to visit, followed by calls with the French and Irish leaders, a Downing Street spokeswoman said.
“Both agreed that cooperation in the spirit of the proven friendly ties between the two countries should continue, including in the upcoming negotiations on Britain’s departure from the European Union”, he said.
Britain’s new prime minister will swiftly begin drawing up her new top team and is expected to increase the number of women in government.
But the mission to make Britain a country that works for everyone means more than just fighting these injustices. Liam Fox has been appointed to the position of International Trade Secretary, a new post in the government.
He stood for the leadership this time, but quickly backed May after being the first candidate eliminated.
A spokeswoman for Mrs May said: “Civil servants have already been charged with finding a building to house the Brexit department – an indication of Theresa’s commitment to get on with delivering the verdict of European Union referendum”.
May, who had supported Britain’s continued European Union membership, moved quickly to heal divisions sparked by the referendum by appointing leading “Leave” campaigner Johnson to a senior cabinet post.
As Home Secretary, she was in favor of lowering migration to the United Kingdom, promising to lower migration to a level of less than 100,000. For years the libertarian Davis has sparred with May over the powers of Britain’s spy agencies.
Mrs May also appointed Liam Fox to the new position of secretary of state for global trade, while Michael Fallon was retained as defence secretary.
That means two of the top four jobs in the government are held by women. Britain’s new Prime Minister Theresa May arrived at Downing Street on Wednesday after gaining consent from Queen Elizabeth II. Current Defense Secretary Michael Fallon has kept his job.
Mrs May later told European leaders she was committed to the United Kingdom leaving the EU.
Amber Rudd, the new interior minister, is one of the few Remain campaigners to win a senior cabinet post.
Johnson had hoped to become British prime minister but saw his dream fade amid Conservative Party plotting after last month’s vote.
Britain hasn’t yet formally triggered talks on exiting the European Union and it’s unclear when it will do so. That will go to a dedicated “minister for Brexit”.
Speaking outside her new home, 10 Downing Street, May delivered a message directed at the British population from all walks of life.
“I hope that your vast political experience will be sought after both in the United Kingdom and in the global community”, Putin’s message to Cameron said. Standing with his family, he said being prime minister had been “the greatest honour of my life”.
Mr Osborne looks unlikely to stay on as Chancellor after the PM-to-be trashed parts of his economic legacy in a campaign speech on Monday, with Philip Hammond, who has long coveted the role at the Treasury, among those who could take over. Osborne has resigned from government.
May, who was a supporter of the “Remain” campaign emphasised on Monday that Britain will forge a bold global role outside the European Union and that “Brexit is Brexit and we are going to make a success of it”.
May herself had sided with Cameron in trying to keep Britain inside the European Union, so she now need to reach out to the winning “Leave” side in order to heal divisions and show her commitment to respecting the popular vote.
She even warned the next person to find her “bloody difficult” would be President of the European Commission Jean-Claude Juncker. I know you’re working around the clock.
“We are living through an important moment in our country’s history”, May said after she officially became prime minister.
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Russian President Vladimir Putin said he was ready for “constructive dialogue” with Britain’s new premier.
