UK’s Prime Minister May puts together new cabinet

UK’s Prime Minister Theresa May, has put together her new team, in her first full day in Downing Street, sacking Michael Gove from the government. 

Education Secretary Nicky Morgan has also gone, as well as Culture Secretary John Whittingdale.

Brexit campaigner Boris Johnson said he was "humbled" having been named new foreign secretary, in a surprise move.

Philip Hammond became chancellor, Amber Rudd is home secretary, and Eurosceptic David Davis is new Brexit secretary.

Asked about his first priorities as chancellor, Mr. Hammond said there would be "no emergency Budget".

He said he would work closely with the Bank of England and other economic experts and make "carefully considered decisions over the summer", followed by an Autumn Statement "in the normal way".

Before the EU referendum, his predecessor George Osborne said he would have to cut public spending and increase taxes in an emergency Budget if the UK voted for Brexit.

Mrs. May has told European leaders she is committed to the UK leaving the EU.

In a series of congratulatory phone calls taken by Mrs May on Wednesday evening, the UK's second female prime minister spoke to German Chancellor Angela Merkel, French President Francois Hollande and Irish Taoiseach Enda Kenny.

A Downing Street spokesman said the new prime minister, "emphasised her commitment to delivering the will of the British people to leave the European Union".

"The prime minister explained that we would need some time to prepare for these negotiations and spoke of her hope that these could be conducted in a constructive and positive spirit," the spokesman added.

Mrs. May will continue to fill out her new cabinet later on Thursday, with the new secretaries of state for health, education, and work and pensions among those expected to be appointed.

Mrs. May began forming her new cabinet shortly after her arrival into 10 Downing Street.

Her first cabinet announcement was former foreign secretary Mr Hammond as chancellor - replacing Mr Osborne.

Mr. Osborne had been fired because his "brand" was seen as "too tarnished", BBC political editor Laura Kuenssberg said.

But in a move that surprised the political world, Mrs. May put Mr. Johnson - one of the most prominent figures of the campaign to leave the EU - in charge of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

Mr. Johnson, who has said he is "very humbled" and "very proud" at the appointment, is no stranger to controversy - or gaffes - on the international stage.


During the EU referendum campaign, he drew criticism for comments he made about US President Barack Obama who he said had an "ancestral dislike" of the UK because of his "part-Kenyan" heritage.

In 2015, Mr Johnson had to cancel planned public events in the West Bank because of security fears after he criticised backers of a boycott on Israeli goods, and he has previously described Hilary Clinton - US presidential hopeful, as having "a steely blue stare, like a sadistic nurse in a mental hospital".

The cabinet appointment throws Mr Johnson a lifeline after a turbulent couple of weeks which saw his Tory leadership bid torpedoed by Justice Secretary and fellow Brexit campaigner Michael Gove.



SOURCE: BBC News