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(World Today • Friday 15 July 2016)
Leader Appoints Brexit Team
Johnson given key post by new British PM Theresa May
Queen Elizabeth II (right) welcoming the UK’s new Prime Minister Theresa May in Buckingham Palace yesterday.
Mrs. May is the 13th Prime Minister to serve this queen — the first was Winston Churchill. Photo: AP
LONDON — After a startlingly swift transfer of power that made her Britain’s Prime Minister, Mrs. Theresa May took charge of a new government vowing to honour the referendum to leave the European Union (EU) and naming Mr. Boris Johnson, the former London Mayor who had been widely considered politically dead, as Foreign Minister.
Mrs. May also cleared rivals from the government, sacking Justice Minister Michael Gove, who is now seen as treacherous by many Conservatives, as she assembled her new Cabinet team yesterday.
Mr. Gove led the so-called Leave campaign alongside Mr. Johnson, then betrayed him by making a bid for Conservative leadership to succeed Prime Minister David Cameron, who left office late on Wednesday.
Speaking as she arrived at the Prime Minister’s residence at 10 Downing Street early yesterday , Mrs. May, 59, who had served for six years as Home Secretary, sought to position herself firmly in the tradition of “one nation” Conservatism, stressing her commitment to helping the underprivileged and pledging to fight “burning injustice”. She also promised to preside over an economy that benefits everyone.
“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 just for a privileged few but for every one of us,” said Mrs. May, as her husband, Philip, stood nearby.
Another notable appointment was that of Mr. David Davis, a former minister for Europe and a longstanding Eurosceptic, to lead a new department responsible for exiting the EU. Mr. Liam Fox, a former Defence Secretary, will take charge of international trade.
Mrs. May has effectively handed Mr. Johnson, Mr. Davis and Mr. Fox the responsibility for successfully carrying out the withdrawal — known as Brexit — which they repeatedly promised would yield new opportunities.
Putting crucial international portfolios firmly in the hands of Brexit supporters was perhaps an astute move for Mrs. May, who had argued for Britain to remain in the European Union.
Not only do the appointments appear to reflect a desire to unite her party around the outcome of the June 23 vote, they may also be calculated to head off any suggestion from right-wingers that she might not follow the will of the voters.
Even so, Mr. Johnson’s elevation to such a prestigious post represents a remarkable change of fortunes in a career that has had its share of them. He played a key role in the extraordinary national dramas of the last few months, abandoning Mr. Cameron, who desperately tried to keep Britain in the EU, and cheerfully becoming the public face of the Brexit campaign.
Yet when Mr. Cameron announced his resignation after the referendum, Mr. Johnson’s hopes of succeeding him as Conservative Party leader were undermined by Mr Gove, who threw aside his support for Mr. Johnson and announced his own candidacy. Mr. Gove argued that Mr. Johnson was not up to the job.
Mrs. May herself recently mocked Mr. Johnson’s negotiating skills over London’s purchase of used German water cannons when he was mayor. She blocked the use of the cannons, citing fears that they could cause serious injuries.
Yesterday, Germany’s Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier said Mr. Johnson’s appointment as his British counterpart shows that the new government is serious about leaving the EU and called on Mrs. May to kick off exit talks “as soon as possible”.
Mr. Steinmeier said: “Boris Johnson is a crafty party politician who managed to use the eurosceptic mood for himself. But completely different political tasks now stand at the forefront: This is about taking foreign policy responsibility beyond Brexit.’’
The man charged with leading Britain out of the bloc though will be Mr. Davis, 67, a staunchly Eurosceptic lawmaker who worked in Britain’s foreign office from 1994 to 1997, with responsibility for negotiations with Europe. During a recent interview, he recalled that colleagues in Europe had nicknamed him the “charming b******”.
Mr. Davis said the country should take its time before triggering the formal Article 50 process to leave the bloc — an approach at odds with other European states, who have urged Britain to do quickly to clear up uncertainty.
Speaking before his appointment, he said the government could be ready to do so by the start of 2017 after consulting with Britain’s constituent nations, businesses, unions and others. The future of London’s global financial hub will be at the heart of Mr. Davis’s Brexit negotiation, with rival banking centres already eyeing up ways to prise lucrative parts of the industry out of London, by persuasive or regulatory force.
In a speech delivered during the Brexit campaign, Mr. Davis said he believed there would “almost certainly” be a deal that maintains a free market between the EU and the UK.
“The reality is that the hardheaded, pragmatic businessmen on the continent will do everything to ensure that trade with Britain continues uninterrupted,” he said.
Among other appointments, Mrs. May promoted Amber Rudd, former Energy Secretary, to Home Secretary. That ensures that one of the biggest political offices — and Mrs. May’s old job — remains in the hands of a woman. The new Prime Minister chose Mr. Philip Hammond, who had been Foreign Secretary, as chancellor of the Exchequer, replacing Mr. George Osborne, a close Cameron ally.
She also fired Education Secretary Nicky Morgan, who backed Mr. Gove’s short-lived leadership campaign.
She named Ms. Liz Truss Justice Secretary and Britain’s first female Lord Chancellor — the top official in the judicial system.
Ms. Justine Greening, formerly in charge of international development, is now Education Secretary and Minister for Women and Equalities.
Mrs. May moved into 10 Downing Street after a day of political ritual that saw Mr. Cameron address lawmakers for the last time as prime minister, before tendering his resignation to Queen Elizabeth II. Only on Monday did Mrs. May learn that she would become Prime Minister, when the last remaining contender to lead the governing Conservative Party, Mrs. Andrea Leadsom, quit the race.
Mrs. May is the 13th Prime Minister to serve this queen — the first was Winston Churchill. AGENCIES
PM Lee sends his congratulations
Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong has written to Mrs. Theresa May to congratulate her on her appointment as the new Prime Minister of the United Kingdom.
“I am confident that you will provide the strong leadership that the United Kingdom will need to navigate the challenges ahead, and steer the country towards continued prosperity,” said Mr. Lee in his letter, which was released by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs last night.
“Singapore is a long-standing partner and friend of the United Kingdom. We share deep historical ties and common interests in many areas,” added Mr. Lee.
He noted that both countries enjoy strong security cooperation, an area which Mrs. May would be familiar with when she was UK’s home Secretary before taking over from Mr. David Cameron, as well as strong business and defence ties.
“All these relationships are underpinned by the strong people-to-people ties and the historical and cultural links we share,” said Mr. Lee, who added that he looked forward to meeting Mrs. May soon to discuss how both sides can further strengthen bilateral ties.