There’s a new Iron Lady in town
This week, Theresa May declared she was “no Margaret Thatcher.” But within hours of being appointed the British Prime Minister Wednesday, she displayed the kind of mettle that earned Thatcher her title of the Iron Lady.
May immediately sacked George Osborne, her chancellor of the exchequer, then in a surprise move appointed Boris Johnson, one of the leading lights in Brexit campaign, foreign secretary — one of the most powerful positions in government. In that role, Johnson will deal with many of the European leaders who were stunned when Britain voted three weeks ago to leave the European Union.
However, Johnson will not have to deal with the Brexit — that falls to David Davis in the new role of secretary of state for exiting the European Union.
Davis, a prominent Leave campaigner, had initially supported Johnson for Conservative Party leader after David Cameron resigned in the face of the Brexit vote. But Johnson withdrew from the race after an act of betrayal by an ally in the Brexit campaign who said he wasn’t fit for the PM job.
Davis then transferred his allegiance to May, who won the leadership contest this week — and the prime ministership — almost by default.
Her rival for the position, Energy Minister Andrea Leadsom, dropped out, paving the way for May to become Britain’s second female prime minister.
The appointments for Davis and Johnson were widely seen as reaching out to Brexiteers in an attempt to reshape Britain’s role in the world and heal rifts in the Conservative Party.
They came after May gave a speech on the steps of 10 Downing Street, the PM’s official residence, in which she vowed to “fight against burning injustice” in Britain and build “a country that works for everyone.”
The dramatic events — topping a topsy-turvy three weeks in British politics — began just over an hour after Cameron left Downing Street for the last time, accompanied by his family.
In his emotional final address as PM, Cameron told the House of Commons he believed he was leaving the country “much stronger” and the economy “immeasurably stronger” after his six years in office.
“It’s not been an easy journey, and of course we have not got every decision right, but I do believe that today our country is much stronger,” he said.
In her first address to the nation, May immediately distanced herself from Cameron’s government by vowing not to “entrench the advantages of the fortunate few.”
“We are living through an important moment in our country’s history following the referendum,” she said.
“We face a time of great national change. As we leave the European Union, we will forge a bold new positive role for ourselves in the world and we will make Britain a country that works not for a privileged few but for every one of us.”
Her new government will do “everything we can to help anybody, whatever your background, to go as far as your talents will take you.”
She directly addressed hard-working people, telling them, “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 will prioritize not the wealthy, but you. When it comes to opportunity, we won’t entrench the advantages of the fortunate few.”
With her husband, Philip, standing behind her, she said for an “ordinary working-class family” life is “much harder than many people in Westminster realize”.
Her speech highlighted her clear intention to reach out to Labour voters who feel alienated by socialist leader Jeremy Corbyn and to reclaim the centre ground of British politics.
May is under pressure from pro-Brexit Conservatives and other EU leaders to start formal exit talks with the bloc. But Tony Travers of the London School of Economics said she probably would not rush to trigger Article 50 of the EU constitution, which starts a two-year countdown to a departure from Europe.
“I don’t detect Theresa May being an impulsive person,” he said. “I think she’s a cautious person, and the British political establishment needs to come to terms with this massive decision.”
By assigning key Brexiteers to roles in government, she is also making them partially responsible for what happens.
“It doesn’t get her out of the responsibility for whatever happens with Brexit, but she’s at least dipped their hands in the blood,” said Tim Bale, professor of politics at Queen Mary, University of London. “Whatever deal she gets is a deal they’ll be associated with.”