UK Prime Minister Theresa May has told her German and French counterparts she does not wish to rush Britain's exit from the EU. However, the new premier pressed on with the promotion of leading Euroskeptics to key roles.
Image: Reuters/S. Wermuth
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In Wednesday evening calls to German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Francois Hollande, May stressed that her government would need time before beginning the talks.
"On all the phone calls, the prime minister emphasized her commitment to delivering the will of the British people to leave the European Union," a spokeswoman for May said.
"The prime minister 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."
'Spirit of friendly relations'
Merkel was said to have wished her British counterpart good luck. The chancellor's spokesman Steffen Seibert said the pair had "agreed that cooperation in the spirit of the proven friendly relations between both countries should be continued, including in the forthcoming negotiations on Britain's exit from the EU."
Merkel, to whom May has been likened, has urged the EU to give Britain time before the start of formal talks, but has also said Britain should rapidly clarify the sort of relationship it wants with the EU.
In his own phone call with May, French President Francois Hollande was said to have urged the British premier to pull her country out of Europe quickly.
Many see Boris Johnson as a comic character, but May showed clear faith in the former journalistImage: Getty Images/D. Kitwood
"They agreed to actively develop the bilateral relationship that warmly unites France and Britain in all fields," Hollande's office said in a statement.
"The president repeated his desire that negotiations for Britain's exit from the European Union should be launched as quickly as possible," the statement said.
Brussels urges swiftness
May has also faced immediate pressure from European Parliament President Martin Schulz and European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker, who urged May not to delay the Brexit divorce proceedings.
To formally begin the process, May would have to invoke Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty, which would set the clock ticking on a two-year countdown to the UK's final departure.
Shortly after taking office formally, May made a number of appointments to her cabinet on Wednesday evening, giving the task of negotiating Britain's exit from the EU to Euroskeptic Conservative veteran David Davis.
The new prime minister, who had publicly supported Britain's continued EU membership alongside former Prime Minister David Cameron, also appointed leading "Leave" campaigner Boris Johnson to the role of foreign secretary.
Theresa May's vision for Brexit Britain: the new British cabinet
Some of Theresa May's cabinet members were announced as she started her tenure as prime minister. Boris Johnson, once favored to become prime minister, was named Foreign Secretary.
Image: picture alliance/ZUMA Press/P. Maclaine
Boris Johnson as top diplomat
Former London Mayor and avid Brexit campaigner Boris Johnson was appointed as foreign secretary. This move attracted almost as much attention as Wednesday's handover on Downing Street, especially abroad. Johnson's rollercoaster has taken him from prime ministerial front-runner, to political write-off, to top UK diplomat in weeks.
Image: Reuters/N. Hall
Hammond made Chancellor of the Exchequer
Philip Hammond has become Britain's new finance minister, replacing George Osborne. Hammond had served as foreign minister in the outgoing government of David Cameron since 2014. He will take over 11 Downing Street, the office next door to Prime Minister May at Number 10. Hammond, 60, had previously served as transport secretary when the Conservatives took over power in 2010.
Image: Getty Images/AFP/E. De La Osa
Leadsom gets Environment Ministry after PM bid
May appointed her last rival for the top job, Andrea Leadsom, as the new minister of the environment, fisheries and rural affairs. Leadsom pulled out of the race earlier this week, after allegedly suggesting that having children made her a better candidate than Theresa May. She later claimed the remarks were misconstrued. During the referendum campaign Leadsom called for the UK to leave the EU.
Image: Getty Images/C. Court
Fox to secure UK's trade connections
Liam Fox will tackle the newly-created office of Secretary of State for International Trade. A fierce euroskeptic and former doctor, Fox had previously served as defense minister in 2010 and 2011 - a position he had to resign from after giving a close personal friend and lobbyist exclusive access to the the ministry. He also threw his hat in for the party leadership (for a second time) this year.
Image: Reuters/N. Hall
Amber Rudd takes May's old post
Amber Rudd will succeed Prime Minister May as interior minister. She had formerly served as Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change after working as parliamentary private secretary to the former Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne from 2012 to 2013. Rudd had also campaigned quite heavily for Britain to remain in the EU. May is expected to appoint a record tally of female ministers.
Image: Getty Images/C. Court
Davis as Secretary of State for Exiting the EU
David Davis will occupy the newly-created office as the "Brexit Minister." He will be in charge of laying out a timeline for the UK - EU split, which the UK had voted in favor of on June 23. The euroskeptic Conservative lawmaker had declined to join the government under Prime Minister Cameron, serving as a backbencher instead. He's a renowned Tory rebel, not just on the issue of the EU.
Image: picture-alliance/dpa/PA Wire/J. Brady
Former accountant takes over cultural affairs
May named Karen Bradley as UK's new Culture Minister. Bradley, a "remainer," previously worked as a junior minister for preventing abuse, exploitations and crime. Bradley once worked as an accountant and a tax advisor. She's taking over from John Whittingdale, one of the heads on May's first-week chopping block. Whittingdale's close ties to media mogul Rupert Murdoch had come under criticism.
Image: picture-alliance/empics/A. Mattthews
Michael Fallon continues as Defense Secretary
Michael Fallon will remain in his post as Defense Secretary in Theresa May's cabinet - an office he has held for more than two years. Fallon occupied a number of ministerial posts before and has represented two different constituencies in his career as a politician.
Image: Getty Images/AFP/O. Scarff
Truss moving up
Liz Truss is taking the reins of the justice ministry, after serving as environment minister under Cameron. One of her speeches went viral last year after she dramatically pointed out that Britain imports two thirds of its cheese. "That. Is. A. Disgrace," she said, staring intently into the camera. Similar to new PM Theresa May and colleague Jeremy Hunt, Truss supported staying in the EU.
Image: Getty Images/AFP/O. Scarff
Hunt still on the job
Health Minister Jeremy Hunt confirmed he would keep his post in the new cabinet. "Reports of my death have been greatly exaggerated," Hunt tweeted, paraphrasing Mark Twain. The Tory has waged a long-running battle with junior doctors in Britain over new government contracts. After a series of strikes, Hunt said last week the government would simply force the doctors to accept the deal.
Image: Getty Images/C. Court
Greening in charge of education
Justine Greening is another one of Cameron's ministers getting a new job under Theresa May. Greening is moving from the Ministry of International Development to head up the Ministry of Education, Women and Equalities. The new education secretary backed the "Remain" camp. Greening stated she was in a same-sex relationship in June this year, making her the first openly gay cabinet member.
Image: Getty Images/AFP/O. Scarff
May's right-hand-man made Transport Minister
New Transport Secretary Chris Grayling previously served as the leader of the House of Commons and May's campaign chief. Unlike May, however, Grayling was a high-profile Brexit campaigner. Ahead of the cabinet reshuffle, Grayling said there was no hurry for the UK to leave and that the Article 50 "should be triggered when we're ready."
Image: Getty Images/C. Court
Patel facing post Brexit clear-up
May appointed Priti Patel, another "Brexiteer," as the Minister of International Development. The Indian-origin conservative once said that the immigration from within the EU was "out of control - and cannot be controlled as long as we stay in the EU." Patel also argued that Turkey would soon be joining the EU – hours after Cameron said this wasn't likely this millennium.
