New Prime Minister decides new cabinet

Theresa May took over as Britain’s new prime minister on Wednesday charged with pulling the country out of the European Union, and sprung a surprise by making top Brexit campaigner Boris Johnson foreign secretary.

Prime Minister Theresa May appointed Brexit campaigner Andrea Leadsom, who this week dropped out as her rival in the Conservative leadership contest, as environment secretary in her new cabinet on Thursday.

Her most contentious appointment is Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson, who compared the EU’s aims to those of Hitler and Napoleon during the campaign leading up to Britain’s vote last month to quit the 28-nation bloc. And I know because we’re Great Britain that we will rise to the challenge.

Speaking as she arrived at the prime minister’s office at 10 Downing St., 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”.

After the audience at the palace May headed to 10 Downing Street to start the task of choosing her new front bench, with her first appointments expected Wednesday night and Thursday.

Just over an hour after entering her new office, she started naming ministers, appointing the steady and experienced foreign minister Philip Hammond to take charge of the finance ministry.

May replaced key members of David Cameron’s outgoing government, including Culture Secretary John Whittingdale, Education Secretary Nicky Morgan and Justice Secretary Michael Gove, who also vied for the job of Conservative Party leader.

Gone were Cameron allies including ex-Treasury chief George Osborne, Cameron’s friend and neighbor and like him the product of an elite private school.

Her new role as secretary of state for environment, food and rural affairs represents a promotion from her previous job as junior energy minister, but lands her the hard task of delivering on funding promises made to the farming community during the referendum campaign.

But the decision to name Johnson, the eccentric former London mayor, to the high-profile post of representing Britain to the rest of the world is likely to cause controversy.

Davis, 67, a strong supporter of Brexit, has said Britain should take its time before formally starting the divorce process by triggering Article 50 of the EU’s Lisbon Treaty.

Though she joined Mr. Cameron in supporting continued European Union membership, Ms. May assured the public on Monday that “Brexit means Brexit”.

The warmth in the House of Commons culminated in loud applause and a standing ovation from his Conservative colleagues for Cameron, 49, who resigned after voters rejected his advice and made a decision to leave the European Union.

Another firm right-wing figure, Liam Fox, became the Trade Minister.

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 European Union and called on Mrs May to kick off exit talks “as soon as possible”. So she must form a credible governing coalition, including Brexit advocates, in her Cabinet.

The statement also said Netanyahu spoke to former Prime Minister David Cameron.

He even poked fun at himself, reminding legislators of a barb he directed at then-Prime Minister Tony Blair more than a decade ago: “He was the future once”.

The libertarian Davis – a former special forces reservist who boasts that he has broken his nose five times – has sparred with May for years over the powers of Britain’s spy agencies, which she oversaw as home secretary and he thinks are too intrusive.

“It’s not been an easy journey and we’ve not got everything right”, he said.

Yet his legacy will be overshadowed by his failed referendum gamble, which he had hoped would keep Britain at the heart of a reformed EU.