May filling more government posts; euroskeptics in key roles

None of it will be easy for Britain’s new Prime Minister Theresa May, who quietly backed the Remain campaign to stay in the European Union but quickly appointed Leave campaigners to key posts in her cabinet to show she is serious the vote for Brexit means Brexit.

Her most contentious appointment is Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson, accused by his French counterpart Jean-Marc Ayrault on Thursday of lying to Britons in the run-up to last month’s shock referendum vote to leave the 28-nation EU. “I know you are working around the clock, I know you’re doing your best and I know that sometimes life can be a struggle”.

The 59-year-old, who will become Britain’s second female prime minister after Margaret Thatcher, also has to attempt to bridge Conservative Party divisions and deal with a potential economic downturn.

Three weeks after Britain voted to leave the European Union, May also came under fire from EU leaders, who pressed her to trigger a Brexit as quickly as possible.

The Labour leadership is facing the prospect of a split on what action to take against Tony Blair over the invasion of Iraq as Emily Thornberry, the new shadow foreign secretary, opposed a censure motion against the former prime minister.

The appointment of leading Brexit campaigners to her new government emphasises May’s commitment to pulling Britain out of the European Union, despite her own reservations, analysts said.

EU leaders are pressuring Britain to open formal exit talks sooner and warning that the United Kingdom can not have access to the single European market of 500 million people without accepting the free movement of EU citizens, a sticking point for many pro-Brexit Britons.

He angered and frustrated many Brits who voted to remain, along with other European leaders who believe Britain made a great mistake.

Davis, a veteran lawmaker who has twice run for the Conservative leadership, is one of the staunchest euroskeptics in British politics.

The White House has congratulated May on taking up the PM’s duties, expressing confidence that she be able to steer Britain through its negotiations on leaving the EU.

Economists predicted in a Reuters poll that the Bank of England would halve its main interest rate to 0.25 percent on Thursday in a pre-emptive strike to try to ward off a recession and reassure markets.

The new government will do “whatever is necessary to keep the economy on track” and the pace of deficit reduction could be curbed, he suggested.

“We think it is critical that negotiations take place in a pragmatic, transparent and smooth manner where both sides demonstrate flexibility in order to produce results that are the right outcome”, he said.

The new International Trade Secretary can now go to New Zealand, to India, to Canada and say yes please, we do want you to sell us your lamb, your rice and your wheat – all free of tariffs and other barriers.

The senior Conservative MP outlined his vision for a “brisk but measured approach to Brexit”, with crucial new trade deals being swiftly struck with countries around the globe.

Hammond tried to sound a reassuring note today, pledging that he would not introduce an emergency national budget – even though there are question marks hanging over the economy following the country’s decision to leave the EU.

David Cameron stepped down Wednesday after six years as prime minister.

In a surprise move, May appointed Boris Johnson as foreign secretary.

May is something of an unknown quantity internationally, but European Council president Donald Tusk said he looked forward to a “fruitful working relationship” with her.

“His appointment is a gamble”, said Peter Snowdon, a long-time observer of the ruling Conservative party who co-authored a book on May’s predecessor, David Cameron.

Hammond was one of Prime Minister Theresa May’s first appointments, and one of his immediate tasks was to take to the airwaves in hopes of offering calming tones of reassurance to the markets and the general public about the economy.