UK’s May struggles to project power
Limited Cabinet changes, no coalition deal yet
LONDON — U.K. Prime Minister Theresa May’s weakness was underlined yesterday as she announced limited changes to her Cabinet before a showdown with her Conservative Party’s lawmakers today.
May was unable to make wholesale changes to her government after losing her majority in the House of Commons in Thursday’s elections. The only major change was the promotion of her friend and ally Damian Green, previously the work and pensions secretary, to first secretary of state.
May will address Conservative members of Parliament today in a meeting that will test her chances of staying in office. Many are angry with her for calling the snap election and running such a catastrophic campaign after being 20 percentage points ahead in the polls two months ago.
The announcements of Cabinet appointments followed a night of chaos over her bid for an agreement with Northern Ireland’s Democratic Unionist Party to support her government. Her office admitted it hadn’t achieved a final deal just hours after announcing that it had.
May will meet with DUP leader Arlene Foster in London tomorrow as she seeks to secure the support of the party’s 10 members of Parliament, for her program, making up for the Conservatives’ nine-seat shortfall in the Commons. The Conservatives will be unable to pass controversial legislation without the DUP, the only minor party willing to consider backing May.
May started making appointments to her Cabinet yesterday. Green’s appointment as first secretary of state was the biggest change. The previous first secretary was George Osborne, whom May fired as chancellor of the exchequer last year. David Gauke, formerly the chief secretary to the treasury, will replace Green as secretary of state for work and pensions. Greg Clark was reappointed business secretary. Liz Truss, who was justice secretary before Thursday’s vote, was demoted to chief secretary to the Treasury. The role will see Truss “attending Cabinet” rather than holding a full Cabinet post. Former Europe Minister David Lidington succeeds Truss at the justice department.
Defense Secretary Michael Fallon, reconfirmed in his post Friday, said May will change her style now that she’s governing without a majority. “She absolutely understands that a minority government will require a different approach, a more collective approach,” he said.