British Prime Minister Theresa May has chaired her first new Cabinet meeting. She reportedly told her ministers that she did not want the UK to be “defined by Brexit”, but to “build the education, skills, and social mobility to allow everyone to prosper from the opportunities of leaving the EU”.
Chancellor Philip Hammond updated the Cabinet on the post-referendum economy. Only a handful of the 27 members of Mrs May's top team are in the same jobs as under David Cameron. Others are in the Cabinet for the first time.
Two Asian MPs have made to the top Cabinet viz. Priti Patel (International Development Secretary) and Sajid Javid (Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government), while Alok Sharma MP has been appointed as Under seecretary of State at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office with responsibility for Asia & the Pacific. Shailesh Vara who was a Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department for Work and Pensions and at the Ministry of Justice before, will now be returning to the backbenches. Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon has also been appointed as Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department for Transport.
Although May praised her predecessor in her maiden speech after taking over prime ministership, seldom anyone could guess what her next move would be. Knives were out for Cameron’s allies. In a major Cabinet shake-up, the new prime minister took everyone at Westminster aback by ruthlessly axing the Cabinet careers of seven Cameron loyalists, starting with leadership rival and Justice Secretary Michael Gove. Nicky Morgan, who signed Gove’s nomination papers as would-be Tory leader, was booted out as Education Secretary and Gove’s fellow Brexit-supporter John Whittingdale was axed as Culture Secretary. Another heavyweight at the receiving end was the mighty former Chancellor George Osborne. A year ago, Osborne was expected to succeed best friend Cameron as prime minister. Today he is back to the backbenches. But Brexit was not the only factor in his downfall. In 2010 he had vowed to rid the Budget deficit by 2015. Today, Britain still borrows £70 billion a year and the national debt is £1.6 trillion.
Other key Cameron appointees like Cabinet Office Minister Oliver Letwin, Chief Whip Mark Harper and Treasury Chief Secretary Greg Hands were also shown the door. Northern Ireland boss Theresa Villiers and Lords Leader Lady Stowell too were sacked.
Work and Pensions Secretary Stephen Crabb put in his papers after being hit by a sex-text scandal.
May named Philip Hammond as Chancellor and promoted Energy Minister Amber Rudd to Home Secretary.
While May delivered a spirited message of hope outside 10 Downing Street, she took everyone by surprise by appointing the gaffe-prone Boris Johnson as Foreign Secretary. The former London Mayor and chief Brexit campaigner is accused of stabbing Cameron in the back for political gains. He has insulted many a world leader at some point and taken the electorate for a ride over Brexit. His appointment sparked jokes online about his abilities to successfully negotiate with other countries. He will represent the UK on the world stage despite having once smeared US President Barack Obama for having part-Kenyan heritage and referred to black people as “piccaninnies” with “watermelon smiles”. Johnson has also described Hillary Clinton as a “sadistic nurse in a mental hospital.”
Johnson said: “I am very humbled to be offered this chance. We have a massive opportunity to make a great success of our new relationship with Europe and the world. I am very excited to be asked to play a part in that.”
Lib Dem leader Tim Farron tweeted: “Theresa May’s reputation for competence lasted a few hours. @Boris Johnson will spend more time apologising to nations he’s offened.”
Shadow Home Secretary Andy Burnham said: “Just when we need to build bridges with Europe, we get a Foreign Secretary who has spent the last three months burning them. PM May’s first mistake.”
May’s move is all the more surprising, as days ago she had mocked Johnson for his negotiating skills, noting “the last time he did a deal with the Germans he came back with three nearly new water cannon”.
Besides Johnson, May has appointed two other leavers to the key Brexit-related jobs in government. David Davis was appointed Secretary of State for exiting the EU, while Liam Fox got the International Trade job.
Andrea Leadsom, May’s Tory leadership rival, has been made Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.
Justine Greening was made Education Secretary and Minister for Women and Equalities, which she described as her “dream job”.
Asian MPs and Peers in the Cabinet
Indian-origin Cabinet minister Priti Patel was appointed as International Development Secretary in May’s Cabinet. Patel has vowed to work for deepening international partnerships and creating millions of jobs in the developing world. “We will continue to tackle the great challenges of our time – poverty, disease and the causes of mass migration, while helping to create millions of jobs in countries across the developing world – our trading partners of the future,” she said. As one of the key campaigners for Britain to leave the EU, Patel also highlighted how she plans to put some of her Brexit strategy in motion through her new ministry.
“Successfully leaving the EU will require a more outward looking Britain than ever before, deepening our international partnerships to secure our place in the world by supporting economic prosperity, stability and security overseas. That’s why my department will be working across government, with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, the new Department for International Trade, the Home Office and others,” the 44-year-old Gujarati-origin Conservative Party MP said. She has pledged to “invest UK aid firmly in national interest, while keeping the promises made to the world’s poorest people”.
In her old role, Patel allegedly wanted to abolish the DfiD department, she is heading at the moment.
Sajid Javid was appointed the new Communities Secretary in May’s Cabinet. He took over from Greg Clark in the role overseeing local government.
In his new job as Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government Sajid is responsible for setting rules on everything from council spending to planning laws.
He has reached India already to talk with Commerce & Industry Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on the possibility of inking a separate UK-India Free Trade Agreement (FTA).
Alok Sharma, MP for Reading West, has been appointed Under Secretary of State at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office with responsibility for Asia & the Pacific.
Following his appointment Alok Sharma said: “I am honoured to have been appointed by the Prime Minister as Minister for Asia & the Pacific, hugely important parts of the world that are crucial for the UK’s prosperity and security. Britain is a truly great country and I will work tirelessly to ensure we continue to thrive and prosper on the world stage.”
Alok continued: “I look forward to working closely with my new colleagues and my counterparts across Asia & the Pacific, with a particular focus on strengthening commercial ties, increasing investment opportunities in both directions and promoting human rights in the region.”
Shailesh Vara, Member of Parliament for North West Cambridgeshire, will be returning to the backbenches following the announcement by the Prime Minister of her new government.
Mr Vara said: “It has been a great pleasure and privilege to have served as a Minister in Government. First in the Whips Office, and then at the Ministry of Justice and for the past year jointly at the Department for Work and Pensions.
“Our country has huge challenges ahead and I am confident that in Theresa May we have the right person to lead us.
“I look forward to continuing to support her as we work towards a One Nation agenda.”
Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon has also been appointed as Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department for Transport.
Challenges Ahead
The new Cabinet is formed. But the acid test begins now. The competence of May’s leadership and her team will be scrutinised every step of the way. The challenges that lie ahead for the May government are – Brexit Negotiations; Fixing the Economy; Uniting Conservative Party; Keeping the UK United; and Foreign Affairs.
New Brexit Secretary David Davis has hinted that Britain should probably formally quit the EU around December 2018.
The biggest decision for May is when to invoke Article 50 to start the process of withdrawal. She is yet to clarify if the UK wants the Norway model – with single market access but payment to the EU and free movement – or the UK paying higher trade tariffs but controlling its own borders and sovereignty.
Following Brexit borrowing has increased, construction is down and unemployment is up. They have to be fixed. May has to walk the talk on protecting rising utility bills and improving wages.
Keeping a check on infighting and bringing together both ‘In’ and ‘Out’ campaigners within the Tory party is another big challenge for May in the days ahead.
60% of Scottish people had voted for Remain in the EU referendum, but the end result went against them. Scotland wants access to the single market. First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said there were grounds for another vote on her country’s independence. May must negotiate a form of Brexit that satisfies Scottish people and keeps the UK united. The new prime minister will also have to keep in mind the implications for Northern Ireland, which will have the only land border with a EU country.
May will have to reassure world leaders that Brexit has not affected the UK’s standing on the world stage.
May's 'One Nation' dream
Within moments of taking over No. 10, May pledged to build a country that works for everyone, not just a privileged few. The 59-year-old former home secretary said her ‘One Nation’ administration would focus on ‘social justice’ – that is fighting the ‘burning injustices’ suffered by the poor who die younger, black people treated harshly by the justice system, the mentally ill and those in state schools less likely to reach top professions, among others.
She made it very clear that “Brexit means Brexit”. She faced calls from the Scottish Nationalist Party for a second Scottish referendum but the new prime minister said the union was “a precious bond” for “the Conservative and Unionist Party”.
The incoming premier May also paid tribute to the outgoing premier Cameron saying that she followed “in the footsteps of a great modern prime minister”.
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Cameron says Farewell
On his final day as PM with wife Samantha and children Nancy, 12, Elwen, 10, and Florence, 5, by his side, Cameron said: “It has been the greatest honour of my life to serve our country as Prime Minister over these last six years, and to serve as leader of my party over 11 years. And as we leave for the last time, my only wish is continued success for this great country that I love so very much.”
He said Samantha, 45, is “the love of my life” and she had “kept me vaguely sane”.
‘I was the Future Once’
Life came full circle for David Cameron when he ruefully told MPs: “I was the future once.”
These were the same words Cameron fired at Tony Blair in 2005: “I want to talk about the future. You were the future once.” Back then Cameron was facing Blair at prime minister’s questions for the first time after becoming Tory leader.
Sweet Note to May
Even though visibly upset by their abrupt move from No. 10, Cameron’s three children showed grace by writing a sweet note to the incoming PM.
On a post it note, Nancy, Elwen and Florence wrote the word ‘Welcome’ and signed their names underneath.
Cameron and Larry the cat
Showing MPs a photo of him cradling No. 10’s chief mouser (Larry the cat), Cameron said: “I want to put a rumour to rest – that somehow I don’t love Larry. I have photographic evidence to prove otherwise. Sadly, I can’t take him with me. He belongs to the house.”
Last Supper @ No 10
David Cameron and his family are believed to have had spicy Indian food for their last meal at No. 10 Downing Street. This included Hyderabadi Saffron Chicken, Kashmiri Rogan Josh, Nasheeli Gost, KT Mixed Grill (Lamb and Chicken), Chicken Zalfrazi, Saag Alloo, Saag Paneer, Palak Gost, Vegetarian Samosas, Naan bread and rice, as well as other dishes.
Indian restaurant Kennington Tandoori tweeted on 12 July that it was about to deliver the soon-to-be former Prime Minister's “last supper”.
“Last supper delivered to no 10 Downing Street by #theKTLondon. It's been a pleasure Prime Minister!”
The restaurant claims to be a popular choice among MPs based in the Westminster area near the Houses of Parliament.
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Boris in Brussels
In his first meeting in Brussels after assuming charge as Foreign Secretary, Boris Johnson said he had a productive meeting with EU foreign affairs chief Federica Mogherini after coming with mollifying promises that Britain's exit from the EU would not be the end of the British relationship with Europe.
“The message I will be taking is that we have to give effect to the will of the people and leave the European Union. But that in no sense means we are leaving Europe. We are not going to be in any way abandoning our leading role in European participation and co-operation of all kinds. When you look at the horrific events in Nice and Turkey, where we have to work very closely together, you see the importance of that.”
The French Foreign Minister, Jean-Marc Ayrault, said Johnson cut a 'humble' figure at the meeting but had failed to apologise for comparing the EU with Hitler.
“Boris Johnson, I would say, came to this council with some humility,” Ayrault said.
