Theresa May is the woman of the hour. After a whirlwind two weeks, the eurosceptic but Remain campaigner is now tasked with pulling the UK o...
Theresa May is the woman of the hour. After a whirlwind two weeks, the eurosceptic but Remain campaigner is now tasked with pulling the UK out of the European Union. The newly-appointed British Prime Minister is carrying out what many consider a bold cabinet restructure. Boris Johnson Boris Johnson was perhaps biggest surprise appointment. The gaffe-prone former journalist and staunch Brexiteer becomes the new British Foreign Minister. The appointment of has given rise to numerous suggestions that the former Mayor of London will alter the face of world diplomacy. “Clearly now we have a massive opportunity in this country to make a great success of our new relationship with Europe and with the world and I’m very excited to be asked to play a part in that,” he said. Reactions from the international stage have, at times, been caustic. The US reportedly said “Are you kidding?” while German Foreign Minister Frank Walter Steinmeier called Johnson an “irresponsible politician.” Brexit negotiations Negotiations to exit the EU will be out of Johnson’s hands, though. Fellow Leave campaigner David Davis has been appointed Brexit Secretary – an entirely new role some say waters down the job of foreign minister. Other appointments As May she builds her government, she’ll have to strike a balance between Brexiteers and Remainers. Boris Johnson succeeds Remain campaigner Philip Hammond, who became Finance Minister after George Osborne was sacked. Hammond was asked if there would be an emergency budget: “No,” he said. “The prime minister made clear we’ll do an autumn statement in the usual way, in the autumn. And we’ll look carefully over the summer at the situation. I’m seeing the Governor of the Bank of England this morning and we’ll take stock of where we are.” Michael Fallon stays in place as Defence Secretary. Pro-Remain MP Amber Rudd takes May’s former position as Home Secretary, meaning two out of the four top jobs are now held by women. While Dr Liam Fox – who competed against May in the Conservative Party leadership race – becomes the International Trade Minister. He was pro-Brexit. Who is missing? Former Justice Minister Michael Gove, who was also in the running in the earlier stages of the Tory leadership race, is gone. He has been told there won’t be a place for him in the new cabinet. Also out is Nicky Morgan, the Education Secretary and Health Minister Jeremy Hunt has been moved. While John Whittingdale has been sacked as Secretary of Culture and Oliver Letwin is no longer the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster. Who to look out for The British media report there are rumours the group known as the ‘Friends of George’ (Osborne) are on their way out of government. Cabinet Office Minister and Paymaster General, Matthew Hancock has been mentioned, as have Business, Innovation and Skills Minister Sajid Javid and Ed Vaizey, the Minister for Culture, Communications and Creative Industries. Meanwhile, there have been suggestions that May will appoint a number of women into her government. Justine Greening, the International Development Minister, has been highlighted as one to watch. Government Whip Anne Milton has also had her name thrown into the mix and so has Karen Bradley, the MP for the Staffordshire Moorlands and Under Secretary of State in the Home Office. And junior Energy Minister Andrea Leadsom, who was head-to-head with May in the leadership race, is also expected to be offered a position in the new government. She stepped down on Monday, paving the way for May to become Britain’s second-ever female prime minister. Everything hangs in the balance, but one sure thing is that by the time May has finished, Whitehall will have gone through a radical restructure. Less
