Yesterday Theresa May became our new Prime Minister. At 5pm, David Cameron handed his resignation to the Queen, who then invited May to form a new government.
She has wasted little time doing so. Last night May began her first cabinet reshuffle, which continued into today. Philip Hammond—previously Foreign Secretary—has been appointed Chancellor, while Boris Johnson has been appointed Foreign Secretary—to some surprise. Former Energy Secretary Amber Rudd is now Home Secretary while David Davis—interviewed in our July issue—now occupies a position that is being called “Secretary of State for Brexit.” Liam Fox is to be International Trade Secretary, while Andrea Leadsom has been made Environment Secretary. Justine Greening, Liz Truss, Michael Fallon, Jeremy Hunt, Chris Graylin and Sajid Javid remain in the cabinet. (For the latest updates, check here.)
George Osborne has been sacked—along with Michael Gove, Oliver Letwin, John Whittingdale, Nicky Morgan. Stephen Crabb has resigned.
Below, a panel of contributors analyse what May’s reshuffle means.
It will be Brexiteers who disappoint the headbangers
Timothy Bale, Professor of Politics at Queen Mary University LondonTheresa May isn’t known as a magician but she’s pulled off a trick with this reshuffle. By making Boris Johnson Foreign Secretary and delegating the responsibility for getting the country out of the European Union to a bunch of Brexiteers, she’s ensured that she’s dipped their hands in the blood for when (and it will be when) they come up with a deal that disappoints the headbangers. But just as importantly she’s done her best to distract us from the contradiction at the heart of her choices, namely that, for someone who stood on the steps of Downing Street and presented herself as a one-nation centrist, her government contains a fair few right-wingers in key positions. Rather disappointingly, with the exception of her pick for the Home Office, it looks as if she’s going to be less than bold than many hoped when it comes to appointing female colleagues: indeed, she seems to be following a practice very common in other liberal democracies of placing women in the so-called "soft" or "mummy" ministries—education and welfare are the most frequently-cited examples—rather than in the "hard," "daddy" departments like defence and finance. Still, it’s early days. Let’s see what unfolds….
A cabinet on probation
Simon Heffer, journalist, author and political commentatorNo political pundit should be surprised when a cabinet is chosen on the basis of considerations other than merit: but in most cases May’s team exemplifies that rule. The exceptions first: David Davis, as a former Europe minister and a Brexiteer, is a good choice to lead the exit negotiations; and Liam Fox, who has maintained excellent connections with America and is an old-school Thatcherite buccaneer, should do well at leading British business towards markets outside the EU. Philip Hammond will bring the dullness of an accountant to the Treasury, which may be what it needs at this time. The Tory party will worry about Amber Rudd’s determination to control immigration; Andrea Leadsom had to be given a place but there will be doubts about her ability to withstand attack; Boris Johnson’s appointment to the Foreign Office is satirical and a sign of the diminution of that department. The sacking of Michael Gove, whose record at Education and Justice was exemplary, looks to be based entirely on personal considerations, and speaks badly of May. It is a cabinet very much on probation, with potential critics not just among the opposition but on the backbenches giving it exceptional scrutiny.
Does Brexit mean Brexit?
Emran Mian is the Director of the Social Market FoundationAt first glance Theresa May’s appointments indicate that Brexit really does mean Brexit. “Leavers” are in charge of the Foreign Office; the strategy for exiting the EU; and international trade. But it’s noticeable that the other major offices are to be held by “Remainers.” Amber Rudd will be responsible for the future of immigration control. Philip Hammond will regulate the heartbeat of the government from the Treasury. The battle lines, if they’re needed, between messianic proclamations on the one hand and sober policy-making on the other have been drawn.
Equally there are rumours that the Business department will be remade, perhaps to take steps towards the model of capitalism May has described in recent speeches—an economy that benefits everyone not merely the privileged few. The “Leave” agenda isn’t being pushed off to one side; but the new Prime Minister is taking out a hefty insurance policy against its potential fallout or failure.
The sword of Damocles
Councillor Ben Harris-Quinney, Chairman of The Bow GroupTheresa May comes to power with the largest sword of Damocles hanging over her since Winston Churchill inherited the challenge of winning World War Two. Unlike Churchill, her greatest personal challenge comes from within her own party, and that's what makes these appointments to her first Cabinet so highly pressurised.
Brexit has been the issue which has, somewhat illogically, brought Theresa May to power, and it will continue to dominate the agenda. However, as the new Prime Minister herself has said, there remains an entire country to run.
It is a rough but reasonably accurate meter to equate those who voted for Brexit with the right of the Conservative Party, but that wing of the party won't be satisfied with only having a say over Brexit. May's initial appointments of Boris Johnson as Foreign Secretary, David Davis as "Brexit Secretary" and Liam Fox as International Trade Minister do much to assuage fears that we are headed for a Brexit-lite Norwegian “half in half out” scenario with the EU, but they leave huge questions over Britain's domestic future.
Boris Johnson’s appointment is an embarrassment to Britain
Jamie Reed, Labour MP for CopelandAs the Labour Party continues to struggle to remove a leader it knows will lead the party into oblivion, the Conservative Party has installed a new Prime Minister, now bolstered by a right-wing cabinet.
Theresa May's first cabinet is an illustration—beneath the insincere soft-left policy platitudes—of a Conservative Party still riven by ideological splits and personal enmities. For now, this will be termed “unity.” Philip Hammond's elevation to become Chancellor will delight the Tory grass roots of which Hammond has long been a darling. The public defenestration of George Osborne—now of the country's most widely disliked politicians—will surely earn the new Prime Minister some respect.
Boris Johnson's elevation to Foreign Secretary is a long way from the blue-collar conservatism which sputtered and coughed intermittently under David Cameron's premiership. That the American-born Alexander Boris de Pfeffel Johnson can bring about Britain's exit from the EU, with all of the turmoil this has presaged, and then find himself in one of the most important and coveted offices of State in less than a fortnight says much about the Conservative Party and, frankly, embarrasses our country.
It's a surprising mistake from a politician as unexcitable as Theresa May. Those of us hoping for a change of course will be disappointed. The new cabinet demonstrates that the new Prime Minister is just as likely as her predecessor to place the internal management of the Conservative Party above the national interest; and it is this tawdry sense of entitlement that got us into this mess in the first place.
The first decision the Cabinet should take
Tim Farron, leader of the Liberal DemocratsThe below is an excerpt from a recent Prospect article by Farron, found here.
“Theresa May’s coronation on Monday surprised many people, even in Westminster, though the last few weeks should have prepared us to expect anything. That now includes a “snap” General Election…My party has already begun selecting candidates, anticipating that May will go to the country and seek the mandate she and her Government don’t have.”
“My colleagues and I hope that both Labour and the SNP will join us in backing any motion that May could and should propose under the Fixed Term Parliaments Act to call a General Election. We urge that this happens as soon as possible. Before parliament goes into recess next week we anticipate more changes as the new Prime Minister appoints her Cabinet. The first decision they should take is when and not if an election will take place.”
