Theresa May promises to govern for hard working Brits rather than the privileged few as she sweeps into No10 with immediate reshuffle
Mrs May vowed to fight for a united nation as she enters Number 10 as UK's second female Prime Minister
THERESA May last night dedicated her premiership to helping millions of hard-working Brits, promising on No10’s steps that she would govern “for you”.
Britain’s second female Prime Minister after Margaret Thatcher addressed the country with her husband and closest confidant Philip standing by her side.
And in a message aimed squarely at Sun readers, she insisted she would be on the side of strivers battling every day to make ends meet and get on in life.
CHIC UP AT NUMBER 10 BY JOELY CHILCOTT, FASHION EDITOR
THERESA’S May-kover is the definition of modern power-dressing.
Ditching the boxy blazers for a £695 collarless Amanda Wakeley coat left the new PM looking approachable, not stuffy.
Quirky shoes are her trademark and I welcome the LK Bennett pair she wore to meet the Queen.
Teamed with an edgy chain necklace, more prominent make-up and coiffed hair, Mrs May looked completely at ease with her promotion.
As sunshine broke out over a previously cloudy Downing Street, she said: “I know you are working around the clock. I know you are doing your best, and I know that sometimes life can be a struggle.
“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 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.”
The promise came as Mrs May pledged to work non-stop to serve all countries within the UK, but also to create a union “between all of our citizens — whoever we are, wherever we’re from”.
She heaped praise on David Cameron as “a great modern Prime Minister” who will be remembered for social justice as well as fixing the economy. And she pledged to follow in his footsteps by pursuing a One Nation agenda and fighting all “burning injustice” in British society.
In her opening remarks as PM, Mrs May made a point of emphasising the “Unionist” part of her party’s long name — The Conservative and Unionist Party — as she faced up to the huge task of keeping Britain together under Brexit.
But she also prepared the nation for hard times following the Brexit vote, saying: “We face a time of great national change. We will rise to the challenge.”
Her address drew immediate praise from Tony Blair’s former spin chief Alastair Campbell who said it would pile yet more pressure on to the feuding Labour Party.
Taking to Twitter, he praised the new Prime Minister for resisting media calls to kiss hubby Philip on the steps of No10, and then added: “Do your own thing. Be your own woman. Good speech. Labour in even more trouble I’d say.”
The PM’s passionate speech, which began shortly after 6pm, came at the end of a highly choreographed and well-rehearsed transfer of power.
The Queen flew back to London to meet both David Cameron and Mrs May yesterday after a morning visit to Prince William and the East Anglian Air Ambulance service.
After sitting by Mr Cameron’s side in his final appearance in the Commons, Mrs May then waited for her predecessor to resign to Her Majesty at the Palace.
For around 20 minutes between 5.20pm and 5.40pm, the country was without a Prime Minister.
Shortly after the Cameron family left the Palace, Mrs May and Philip arrived at 5.25pm. At 5.39pm, Buckingham Palace announced Mrs May had become Premier after accepting an invitation from the Queen to form a new Government.
She is the third leader in the Queen’s reign not to have been born when she came to the throne.
HER PROMISE TO THE PEOPLE
"THE full title of my party is the Conservative and Unionist Party — and that word unionist is very important to me.
It means we believe in a union not just between the nations of the United Kingdom but between all of our citizens.
That means fighting against the burning injustice that if you’re born poor, you’ll die on average nine years earlier than others.
If you’re black, you are treated more harshly by the criminal justice system than if you’re white. If you’re a white working class boy, you’re less likely than anybody else to go to university.
If you’re a woman, you will earn less than a man.
If you’re young, you will find it harder than ever before to own your own home.
The Government I lead will be driven not by the interests of the privileged few, but by yours.
When we take the big calls we will think not of the powerful, but you. When we pass new laws, we will listen not to the mighty, but to you."
Mrs May left the Palace after 33 minutes and was driven out in the Prime Minister’s official silver Jaguar — rather than the old BMW limo she used as Home Secretary.
She was greeted inside No10 by Britain’s top civil servant, Cabinet Secretary Sir Jeremy Heywood.
Mrs May was then given a top- secret briefing on security and defence, including the locations of the Navy’s four Trident submarines. Chief of Defence Staff General Sir Nick Houghton also asked her to write by hand letters of last resort to the commanders of the subs.
The letters stipulate what action they should take if the UK suffered a nuclear attack and she and her designated “second person” were dead or incapacitated.
A special civil service handover team had worked through the night to prepare a brief for Mrs May on urgent Government business.
It emerged they ordered in an Indian takeaway on Tuesday night, sparking incorrect speculation that Mr Cameron had asked for a curry as his last dinner in No10.
In a letter that came an hour before Mr Cameron left Downing Street, European Council President Donald Tusk congratulated Prime Minister May on Twitter.
He tweeted a copy of a 44-word letter, saying he was looking forward to a fruitful working relationship.
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But in a sign of the challenges ahead, European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker made an early push for details of Britain’s Brexit intentions. He wrote: “I understand that you are now occupied with the important responsibility of forming a new Government. I wish you every success in the task ahead.
“The outcome of the United Kingdom’s referendum has created a new situation which the UK and the EU will have to address soon. I look forward to working with you and to learn your intentions.”
Speaking earlier during a trip to Beijing, Mr Juncker admitted that he would miss Mr Cameron.
He said the two of them had “an excellent professional and personal relationship”. Mrs May spent her last night before becoming the leader of her country having dinner with Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis.
He revealed she kept a long-standing dinner date at his London home, which he called an “extraordinary gesture”.
After making key Cabinet appointments last night, Mrs May got straight down to business as she made a string of calls to world leaders.
Her first chat was with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, suggesting Mrs May is keen to forge close ties with the EU’s most powerful politician. She then rang French President Francois Hollande and Irish PM Enda Kenny.
She insisted to the leaders of France and Germany there would be no going back on Brexit as she laid the ground rules for their relationships.
A Downing Street spokesman said: “The Prime Minister emphasised her commitment to delivering the will of the British people to leave the European Union.”
WHO'S WHO IN THERESA'S CABINET Profiles of the VERY Eurosceptic new members of Theresa May's front bench team
Boris Johnson, Foreign Secretary: Chief Brexiteer whose campaign led to Cameron's demise rewarded with plum role
Johnson had himself been in contention for taking up the role of Prime Minister following Cameron's announcement that he would resign from the position after Britain voted to leave the EU.
After all, Johnson had been the chief campaigner for Britain to exit, fighting tooth and nail for the historic change that would see the country leave the EU in two years.
But Johnson withdrew his hat from the ring soon after the referendum vote came through, with claims he had been ambushed by Michael Gove.
Johnson, 52, worked as a journalist but was elected as an MP in 2001.
He gave up his seat when he became the Mayor of London in 2008, but as his time drew to a close, he stood again - and was successful - as as MP in 2015.
The father-of-five's strong anti-EU agenda will heavily influence the British government, particularly with Johnson sitting in the Foreign Secretary role.
But he may not have an easy job with reports already coming out of Germany that Johnson is not a popular choice after his involvement in pushing for Brexit.
David Davis, Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union: Cameron's political rival is comeback king as he is moved from the backbench into newly-created role to steer Britain away from the EU
The former Europe Minister has been brought in from the cold, promoted into the Cabinet as Brexit Secretary after two decades on the backbench.
The promotion gives Davis a Cabinet position for the first time this century, having most recently served as Europe Minister from 1994 to 1997.
Looking smug as he visited the new Prime Minister at Downing Street, the 67-year-old pro-Brexiteer was given the role on the same day as Cameron left Downing Street. The pair previously faced each other for the Conservative leadership in 2005 with Cameron defeating Davis.
The colourful politician, who once forced a by-election by resigning over the erosion of civil liberties in the UK, is certain to come out strong in leading the country out of the EU.
Davis, who was supporting Boris Johnson for the leadership of the Conservative Party until he withdrew, was previously offered a Cabinet position by David Cameron but refused.
Phil Hammond, Chancellor of the Exchequer: Long-time May ally rewarded with top job
Hammond was serving as the Foreign Secretary before being promoted to the role of Chancellor of the Exchequer under May's leadership.
The move comes with Hammond, who worked in manufacturing and consultancy companies, one of May's strongest allies in the Conservative party.
He has worked his way steadily up in government, having been appointed Transport Secretary in 2010 before winning the defence portfolio in 2011 then becoming Foreign Secretary.
The 60-year-old, pro-EU politician has been promoted to the role he has long been tipped to want with his presence balancing out the Brexit-heavy Cabinet.
Hammond takes over the position from George Osborne, who is widely believed to have jumped before being pushed by May.
Amber Rudd, Home Secretary: May passes on her former role to another woman in heady promotion for another pro-EU politician
Amber Rudd, who was Energy and Climate Change Secretary before her promotion, will add flavour into May's Cabinet having previously attacked the newly-appointed Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson for his pro-Brexit stance.
The 52-year-old butted heads with Johnson, accusing him of being too focused on winning a permanent residence at No10.
She was not shy over her calls for Britain to remain with the EU, attending a number of events over the country to encourage people to vote for Remain.
The promotion to Home Secretary is likely to be a thank you from May, who Rudd staunchly supported during the Conservative leadership contest.
The only female to have been given a role in Theresa May's reshuffle on Wednesday, Rudd is hoped to come out strong in her new role.
The promotion to Home Secretary is a swift rise for the politician of six years but she has already been given a dazzling endorsement by fellow MP Therese Coffey who said the role would be in safe hands under Rudd.
Liam Fox, International Trade Secretary: Impressive comeback for pro-Brexiteer once caught up in political scandal
The newly created International Trade portfolio for Dr Fox signals a comeback for the politician.
Having been beaten for the Conservative Party leadership in 2005 by former PM David Cameron and beaten again this year, the pro-Brexiteer is likely to fare well under May.
But 54-year-old Fox, who was brought up in a council house outside Glasgow, could be out of practise what with not having held a ministerial position since October 2011 when he was forced to resign from his defence secretary post in disgrace.
Dr Fox was forced into political wilderness, despite his popularity with Euro-sceptics, after being embroiled in controversy over his friend introducing himself as an advisor.
But aside from the scandal, Dr Fox has held several ministerial roles including that of Defence secretary from 2010 to 2011.
The more fervent Brexiteer of those who were once tipped as successors to Cameron, he will have a strong – if small – support unit.
Michael Fallon, Defence Secretary: Incumbent secretary and Eurosceptic sticks it out in current position in Cabinet reshuffle
A politician who once declared he would "die a Eurosceptic" has clung onto his position as Defence Secretary under the new rule of Theresa May.
Fallon, who has been a politician since the '90s, is one of the most experienced appointed in May's shuffle.
He even served under Britain's first female Prime Minister, Margaret Thatcher and was one of those who urged the former PM not to resign.
Having been a Minister in the Department for Education between 1990 and 1992, he has also served as the Minister for Business and Minister for Energy before being appointed to Defence Secretary in 2014.
Supporting the Remain campaign, Fallon has long supported Mrs May.
