New UK PM gets down to work
Boris Johnson appointed foreign minister
LONDON (AFP) — Theresa May came under immedi -
Three weeks after Britain voted to leave the European Union, May also came under fire from EU leaders, who pressed her to trigger a Brexit as quickly as possible.
And as economic uncertainty swirls from the shock decision to quit the bloc, the Bank of England was mulling possible rate cuts to stimulate the economy.
Seen as a safe pair of hands who campaigned for Britain to remain in the EU, May swept to power promising a “bold new positive role” for Britain outside the bloc.
close team sparked surprise, including former London mayor Johnson as Britain’s top diplomat and longtime eurosceptic David Davis in charge of the “exiting the European Union” portfolio.
While Eurosceptic tabloids rejoiced, the Daily Mirror said Johnson’s appointment left the kingdom’s credibility “hanging by a thread.”
Johnson himself said he was “humbled.”
“We have a massive opportunity in this country to make a great success of our new relationship with Europe and with the world,” he said.
EU leaders, still reeling from Britain’s decision to become the its 60-year history, pressed May for a quick divorce.
The vote “has created a new situation which the United Kingdom and the European Union will have to address soon,” European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker said in a letter to May published on his Twitter account.
- rope’s top two powerbrokers, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Francois Hollande.
During these talks, the British leader stressed her commitment to delivering Brexit but “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,” a Downing Street spokeswoman said.
European Council president Donald Tusk said he looked forward to a “fruitful working relationship.”
Russian President Vladimir Putin said he was ready for “constructive dialogue” with Britain’s new premier, while White House spokesman Josh had worked with May “found her to be quite effective.”
Hammond who took over from George Osborne, a stalwart of Cameron’s government who fell by the wayside in the tran be “no emergency budget.”
Osborne had been accused of fear-mongering during the referendum campaign by saying a new austerity budget might immediately be needed if Britain chose to leave the union.
On Saturday, the Bank of England will announce wheth- er it will cut interest rates for the first time in more than seven years to try limit the fall-out from the vote.
Economists have warned the country may be headed for a recession as financial markets continue to seesaw over the vote and investors hold off key spending decisions while waiting to see where the chips fall.