Tag: Theresa May

The United Kingdom’s new Prime Minister, Theresa May, has vowed to lead a “one nation” government that works for all not just the “privileged few.”

Speaking outside 10 Downing Street after being appointed by the Queen, she said it would be her mission to “build a better Britain.”

She promised to give people who were “just managing” and “working around the clock” more control over their lives, the BBC reports.

Mrs. May is the UK’s second female prime minister, after Margaret Thatcher.

Her husband Philip was standing behind her as she made her first public speech in the role, highlighting the “precious bond” between England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland and between “every one of us.”

“That means fighting against the burning injustice that if you’re born poor you will die on average nine years earlier than others,” she said.

For an “ordinary working class family,” she added, “life is much harder than many people in Westminster realise.”

Speaking directly to people who were “just managing,” she said: “The government I lead will be driven, not by the interests of the privileged few, but by yours. We will do everything we can to give you more control over your lives.

“When we take the big calls, we’ll think not of the powerful, but you.

“When we pass new laws, we’ll listen not to the mighty, but to you. When it comes to taxes, we’ll prioritise not the wealthy, but you.

“When it comes to opportunity, we won’t entrench the advantages of the fortunate few, we will do everything we can to help anybody, whatever your background, to go as far as your talents will take you.”

She also paid tribute to her predecessor, David Cameron, saying he had been a “great, modern prime minister.”

Theresa May, on Monday promised to build a “better Britain” and to make the European Union exit a “success” after she was announced as the new Tory leader and soon-to-be United Kingdom prime minister.

Speaking outside Parliament, Mrs. May said she was “honoured and humbled” to succeed David Cameron, after her only rival in the race withdrew on Monday.

Mr. Cameron will tender his resignation to the Queen after PMQs on Wednesday, the BBC reports.

Mr. Cameron, who has been UK prime minister since 2010, decided to quit after the UK’s Brexit vote.

It follows another day of dramatic developments in the political world, when Andrea Leadsom unexpectedly quit the two-way Conservative leadership contest, saying she did not have the support to build “a strong and stable government.”

Her decision left Mrs. May – the front runner – as the only candidate to take over leading the party and to therefore become prime minister.

In a speech flanked by dozens of Conservative MPs, Mrs. May, the home secretary since 2010, praised Mr. Cameron for his stewardship of the Tory party and the country.

And she paid tribute to Mrs. Leadsom for her “dignity” in withdrawing her leadership bid, as well as to the three other candidates who ran in the contest.

“I am honoured and humbled to have been chosen by the Conservative Party to become its leader,” Mrs. May told the gathered media.

Britain’s ruling Conservative Party on Tuesday started the selection of a new leader to replace David Cameron as prime minister with interior minister Theresa May and junior minister Andrea Leadsom the leading candidates to get the top job.

Cameron had announced he would resign as PM following Britain’s decision to leave the European Union, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports.

Five candidates have put their names forward and on Tuesday the 331 Conservative lawmakers in parliament will hold their first vote on who should be the next leader.

Voting starts at 1000 GMT with the result announced about eight hours later and the candidate with the fewest votes will be eliminated.

The next round of voting will then take place on Thursday and the process will continue until just two candidates remain.

The leader will then be elected by about 150,000 Conservative Party members across the country.

Theresa May, a Conservative stalwart who has run the security and law-and-order portfolio in Cameron’s cabinet for six years, is the favourite with the bookmakers and to succeed and has the greatest backing among lawmakers.

However, May supported Britain staying in the EU and many Conservatives have argued the next prime minister who will need to negotiate Britain’s exit from the bloc after 43 years membership must be someone who had supported the leave campaign.

A poll for the Conservative Home website put support among members for May on 37 per cent, with 38 per cent backing Leadsom, who was also prominent figure in the Brexit campaign.

Leadsom, 53, who had a 25 year career in financial services before turning to politics but has never served in cabinet, also received a boost on Monday when former London Mayor and leading Brexit campaigner Boris Johnson gave her his backing.

Justice Secretary Michael Gove and Home Secretary Theresa May lead a five-way race to be the next Conservative Party leader and United Kingdom prime minister.

Mr. Gove was a surprise addition to the race, having been expected to back Boris Johnson, who shocked the political world by ruling himself out, the BBC reports.

Minister Andrea Leadsom, MP Liam Fox and Work and Pensions Secretary, Stephen Crabb, are also in the running.

The winner of the contest would be announced on September 9.

The leadership battle has been sparked by David Cameron’s decision to step down as prime minister after losing the European Union referendum, which saw the country vote by 52 per cent to 48 per cent to leave the EU.

Mr. Gove’s announcement early on Thursday that he would challenge the leadership was unexpected, as the justice secretary had been expected to throw his weight behind fellow leading Leave campaigner Mr. Johnson for Conservative leader.

Explaining his decision, he said: “I have repeatedly said that I do not want to be prime minister. That has always been my view. But events since last Thursday have weighed heavily with me.”