Theresa May took over as Britain's new Prime Minister on Wednesday, promising a “bold, new, positive role” for the country less than three weeks after its seismic vote to leave the European Union (EU).
Ms. May, the former Interior Minister who succeeds David Cameron after seeing off several rivals for the leader of the Conservative Party, becomes Britain’s second female leader after Margaret Thatcher.
After formally being invited to form a government in a meeting with Queen Elizabeth II at Buckingham Palace, Ms. May arrived at her new Downing Street residence with a promise to lead a government that would tackle “burning injustice.”
‘Bold, positive role’
“Following the referendum we face a time of great national change. And I know because we’re Great Britain that we will rise to the challenge,” she told reporters, flanked by her husband, Philip. “As we leave the European Union we will forge a bold new positive role for ourselves in the world. And we will make Britain a country that works not for a privileged few but for everyone of us.”
As Scotland mulls moves that could eventually see it break away, following the referendum in which most Scots voted to stay in the EU but England and Wales voted to leave, Ms. May said keeping the “precious” kingdom together was a priority.
In one of the key changes to the Cabinet, she appointed Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond the new Chancellor of the Exchequer with George Osborne leaving the government. She is expected to announce appointments to other key posts before getting down to business.
EU leaders are pressing for a swift divorce following the vote to leave the bloc on June 23. European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker was among the first to offer his congratulations to Ms. May, and said he hoped they would meet “in the near future.”
“The outcome of the United Kingdom’s referendum has created a new situation which the United Kingdom and the European Union will have to address soon,” he said.
Ms. May campaigned for Britain to remain in the EU but has stressed that she will honour the popular vote, saying repeatedly that “Brexit means Brexit.”
However, she has refused to be rushed on the timetable.
Cameron’s parting words
Earlier, Mr. Cameron had made his final statement in Downing Street flanked by his wife Samantha and three children, where he wished Britain “continued success.”
“It’s not been an easy journey and, of course, we’ve not got every decision right but I do believe today our country is much stronger,” the 49-year-old said.
He later made the short drive to the palace, where the Queen accepted his resignation after six years in office.
Mr. Cameron had called the referendum and campaigned to stay in the EU in a bid to try to heal divisions in his Conservative party. He gambled, and he lost. In his final question and answer session in the House of Commons on Wednesday, he echoed a line he had once used to taunt former Labour premier Tony Blair.
“As I once said, I was the future, once,” he said.
He urged his successor, “a brilliant negotiator,” to “try to be as close to the European Union as we can be, for the benefits of trade, of cooperation and of security.”
Ms. May campaigned for the leadership as a safe pair of hands, who has spent six years as Home Secretary, one of the toughest jobs in British politics. The daughter of a Church of England pastor, she is cricket fan with a sober demeanour who lists her hobbies as cooking and walking.
She has been MP for Maidenhead, the well-to-do commuter town west of London, since 1997 and was previously chairman of the Conservative party.
Ms. May, the former Interior Minister who succeeds David Cameron after seeing off several rivals for the leader of the Conservative Party, becomes Britain’s second female leader after Margaret Thatcher.
After formally being invited to form a government in a meeting with Queen Elizabeth II at Buckingham Palace, Ms. May arrived at her new Downing Street residence with a promise to lead a government that would tackle “burning injustice.”
‘Bold, positive role’
“Following the referendum we face a time of great national change. And I know because we’re Great Britain that we will rise to the challenge,” she told reporters, flanked by her husband, Philip. “As we leave the European Union we will forge a bold new positive role for ourselves in the world. And we will make Britain a country that works not for a privileged few but for everyone of us.”
As Scotland mulls moves that could eventually see it break away, following the referendum in which most Scots voted to stay in the EU but England and Wales voted to leave, Ms. May said keeping the “precious” kingdom together was a priority.
In one of the key changes to the Cabinet, she appointed Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond the new Chancellor of the Exchequer with George Osborne leaving the government. She is expected to announce appointments to other key posts before getting down to business.
EU leaders are pressing for a swift divorce following the vote to leave the bloc on June 23. European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker was among the first to offer his congratulations to Ms. May, and said he hoped they would meet “in the near future.”
“The outcome of the United Kingdom’s referendum has created a new situation which the United Kingdom and the European Union will have to address soon,” he said.
Ms. May campaigned for Britain to remain in the EU but has stressed that she will honour the popular vote, saying repeatedly that “Brexit means Brexit.”
However, she has refused to be rushed on the timetable.
Cameron’s parting words
Earlier, Mr. Cameron had made his final statement in Downing Street flanked by his wife Samantha and three children, where he wished Britain “continued success.”
“It’s not been an easy journey and, of course, we’ve not got every decision right but I do believe today our country is much stronger,” the 49-year-old said.
He later made the short drive to the palace, where the Queen accepted his resignation after six years in office.
Mr. Cameron had called the referendum and campaigned to stay in the EU in a bid to try to heal divisions in his Conservative party. He gambled, and he lost. In his final question and answer session in the House of Commons on Wednesday, he echoed a line he had once used to taunt former Labour premier Tony Blair.
“As I once said, I was the future, once,” he said.
He urged his successor, “a brilliant negotiator,” to “try to be as close to the European Union as we can be, for the benefits of trade, of cooperation and of security.”
Ms. May campaigned for the leadership as a safe pair of hands, who has spent six years as Home Secretary, one of the toughest jobs in British politics. The daughter of a Church of England pastor, she is cricket fan with a sober demeanour who lists her hobbies as cooking and walking.
She has been MP for Maidenhead, the well-to-do commuter town west of London, since 1997 and was previously chairman of the Conservative party.