Theresa May Becomes Britain’s Second Female Prime Minister

Theresa May resumed office as Britain’s second female Prime Minister after Margaret Thatcher when Prime Minister David Cameron stepped down on Wednesday, Vanguard reports.

The former interior minister made a statement outside her new Downing Street residence after Cameron held his final weekly question and answer session in parliament and tendered his resignation to Queen Elizabeth II at Buckingham Palace.

The 59-year-old was expected to begin announcing her ministerial choices yesterday, including a Brexit minister in charge of leading negotiations with the EU on a new relationship, sources say.

With May sharply criticising finance minister, George Osborne‘s economic legacy earlier this week, it is expected that he will lose his job. Current energy minister Amber Rudd and international development minister Justine Greening have been tipped for lead roles in May’s ministerial list along with foreign minister Philip Hammond and Brexit campaigner Chris Grayling, who is leader of the House of Commons. It is also expected that women will secure several top positions.

According to Vanguard, May will be entrusted with the task of bridging Conservative Party divisions and dealing with a potential economic downturn while in office. She will also prevent pro-EU Scotland from bidding for independence in order to stay in the 28-nation bloc, and will weave new global trade and diplomatic alliances to prepare for a post-Brexit future.

Fortunately, May has received endorsements from party colleagues and is well liked in and around Maidenhead, the commuter town west of London that she has represented in parliament since 1997.

See Also

Claudia Sheinbaum Makes History As She Becomes Mexico’s First Woman President

Jim Charlesworth, a neighbour of May and her banker husband Philip, said with optimism, “She will get this country back on its feet.”

The editor of a local newspaper, the Maidenhead Advertiser,  Martin Trepte added, “She’s a mature, grown-up, no-nonsense politician. She knows her stuff.”