Britain’s May eyes cabinet shake-up
Infighting has cast shadowon nation’s Brexit talks with EU.
U.K. Prime Minister Theresa May could soon be planning an overhaul of her team of top ministers in a bid to reassert her authority and end the government infighting that’s put Brexit talks in jeopardy. Senior officials in May’s Conservative party, speaking on condition of anonymity, want her to deal with Boris Johnson, who has angered colleaguesby forging hisown path on Brexit in the run up to what proved a disastrous party conference forMay this week in Manchester. In an interview with the Sunday Times, May sent a strong signal about her intentions when asked specifically what she planned to do about her rebellious foreign secretary, the former London mayor who’s in the past been touted as a potential successor. “It has never beenmy style to hide froma challenge and I’m not going to start now,” she told the paper. “I’m the PM, and part ofmy job is to make sure I always have the best people inmy Cabinet.” Mayfaced freshcalls toquit following a chaotic speech at theconference. GrantShapps, a former Conservative Party chairman, saidonFriday he’s orchestrating a campaign to persuade her to step down — to which May responded by saying she’s providing the “calm leadership” the country needs. RemovingMay nowwould throw Br exit negotiations into disarray. Itwould take as long as three months for the Tories to pick a newleader, and there are just 18 months to go until Britain tumbles out of the bloc. Maymade some concessions to Europe in a speech in Florence on Sept. 22, injecting momentum into long-stalled talks. With negotiations to resume on Monday in Brussels and investors rattled by the never-ending Westminster soap opera, May ismoving to restore order. The reshuffle, according to the Sunday Times, would take place after an Oct. 19-20summit in Brussels, whereMay will be hoping for a breakthrough few think possible. Concerned thatMay’s government will collapse before Brexit is complete, European Union negotiators have held more frequent backroom talks with the opposition Labour party, the Telegraph reported, seeking assurances Labour will honor deals made with the Conservatives. Shapps said about 30 lawmakers want a new Conservative leader and primeminister. That’s fewer than the 48 needed to trigger a leadership battle.