Incoming British prime minister says ‘Brexit is Brexit’ and pledges to
‘forge a new role for ourselves in the world.’
LONDON — Theresa May promised to “build a better Britain”
in her first public appearance since it was announced she will be the
next U.K. prime minister.
May, who will take over as Tory leader and
prime minister from David Cameron on
Wednesday evening, said she was “honored and humbled” to be given the
biggest job in British politics. The home secretary paid tribute to Andrea Leadsom, her rival for the leadership until she
dropped out of the race earlier on Monday — “for the dignity she has shown
today” — and to Cameron — “for the leadership that he has shown to our party
and our country.”
“During this campaign my case has been
based on three things,” she said. “First, the need for strong, proven
leadership to steer us through what will be difficult and uncertain economic
and political times, the need, of course, to negotiate the best deal for
Britain in leaving the EU, and to forge a new role for ourselves in the world.
Brexit means Brexit, and we are going to make a success of it.”
“Second, we are going to unite our country
and, third, we need a strong, new positive vision for the future of our
country, a vision of a country that works not for the privileged few but that
works for everyone of us. Because we are going to give people more control over
their lives. And that’s how, together, we will build a better Britain.”
Earlier, Cameron gave details of his
departure from office after six years. He said he would chair his last
Cabinet meeting on Tuesday, and on Wednesday take part in his last Prime
Minister’s Questions in the House of Commons.
“After that I expect to go to [Buckingham]
Palace and offer my resignation, so we’ll have a new prime minister in that
building behind me by Wednesday evening,” he said, indicating the prime
minister’s residence at Number 10 Downing Street.
In a short statement, Cameron said Leadsom
had made “absolutely the right decision to stand aside” in the Tory leadership
contest, adding that May had the “overwhelming support” of the parliamentary
party.
He said May was “strong,” “competent” and
that “she will have my full support.”
One of May’s first jobs will be a Cabinet
reshuffle. Senior figures that have supported her leadership, including Chris
Grayling, Liam Fox, David Davis, Priti Patel, James Brokenshire and Brandon
Lewis, are in line for promotions into the Cabinet. May is also expected to
give roles to key leadership backers Karen Bradley, Gavin Williamson, Simon
Kirby and George Hollingbery.
Long-standing Chancellor George Osborne is
expected to be replaced at the Treasury following May’s stark criticism of his
record in a speech Monday morning.
Leadsom quit the Tory leadership race
after being left devastated by the fallout from an interview she gave to the Times newspaper over
the weekend in which she suggested having children gave her an advantage over
May. She also admitted that her teenage daughter had been less sure of her
leadership bid than her older sons.
Leadsom began the leadership contest as a
rank outsider before Michael Gove threw his hat into the ring, derailing Boris
Johnson’s ambitions. After Johnson pulled out of the contest, Gove was
knocked out after failing to win enough support from MPs.
In the final round of voting Thursday, May
won the support of 199 Tory MPs to Leadsom’s 84.
In her announcement Monday Leadsom said
she did not think she had enough support among Tory MPs to run a stable
government. She said new leadership was needed “urgently” to begin the
work of pulling out of the European Union. “A nine-week leadership campaign at
such a critical moment for our country is highly undesirable,” she said.
“Theresa May carries over 60 percent of
the support from the parliamentary party. She is ideally placed to implement
Brexit on the best possible terms for the British people and she has promised
that she will do so.”
“For me personally, to have won the
support of 84 colleagues last Thursday was a great expression of confidence to
which I am incredibly grateful. Nevertheless, this is less than 25 percent of
the parliamentary party and after careful consideration, I don’t believe this
is sufficient support to lead a strong and stable government, should I win the
leadership election.”
Leadsom said that the interests of the
country were best served “by the immediate appointment of a strong and
well-supported prime minister.”
Her announcement casts the Tories in stark
contrast to the Labour Party, whose leader Jeremy Corbyn is facing a leadership
challenge after losing the support of 80 percent of his MPs. Corbyn, however,
has refused to stand down.
Angela Eagle, the former shadow business
secretary, confirmed Monday that she had triggered a leadership contest after
winning the support of enough MPs to challenge Corbyn.
No comments:
Post a Comment