Takes hard Brexiteers including Sajid Javid,
Alok Sharma and Priti Patel into cabinet
Nation special report
LONDON: Brexit adhered Boris Johns assumes charge as 55th prime minister of Great Britain on Wednesday promised that Britain will exit from the European Union on October 31. He asserted that his ‘new and better deal’ will pave the way for Britain to develop a new and exciting partnership with the rest of Europe based on free trade and mutual support.
Speaking outside his 10 Downing Street office after being formally appointed, he said; “We will do a new deal, a better deal, that will maximise the opportunities of Brexit while allowing us to develop a new and exciting partnership with the rest of Europe based on free trade and mutual support.”
“The people who bet against Britain are going to lose their shirts, because we are going to restore trust in our democracy, and we are going to fulfil the repeated promises of parliament to the people and come out of the EU on October 31, no ifs or buts,” he added in his speech.
A new chapter in British politics initiated after Johnson won the leadership of his Conservative party and formally replaced Theresa May, who stood down over her failure to lead Britain out of the European Union.
Johnson has pledged to deliver Brexit in a period of three months what his predecessor Theresa May could not do in three years.
During his campaign, Johnson pledged to renegotiate the withdrawal agreement brokered during months of arduous negotiations between May and EU leaders or leave the bloc on the UK’s scheduled departure date of October 31 without a deal.
The withdrawal agreement has already been rejected three times by the UK’s parliament, prompting May to announce her resignation in May amid a political impasse.
New cabinet:
Hours after taking charge as the Prime Minister, Boris Johnson on Wednesday overhauled the cabinet, giving key roles to leading Brexiteers and firing supporters of his rival former Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt.
He appointed Indian-origin Priti Patel, who was the key face of the ‘Vote Leave Campaign’, as the home secretary.
“I am deeply honoured to be appointed as Home Secretary by our new Prime Minister @borisjohnson. Looking forward to working @ukhomeoffice to prepare our Country for leaving the EU, leading on matters of national security & public safety & keeping our borders secure,” tweeted Patel.
Born to Gujarati parents who fled to Uganda in the 1960s, Patel is a controversial figure who has advocated bringing back of death penalty and had previously asked foreign aid target to be scrapped.
She held international development secretary portfolio in the former Prime Minister Theresa May government but she was forced to resign for a highly ill-advised freelance trip to Israel.
Apart from Patel, Domin Raab also returned to the government as foreign secretary and effective deputy prime minister. He will replace Jeremy Hunt, who was defeated by Johnson in Tory leadership contest.
Jeremy was offered the post of defence secretary in the new cabinet but turned down a demotion and instead chose to return to the backbenches.
Johnson also appointed Sajid Javid as Britain’s new chancellor of the exchequer and Michael Gove as chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster.
Johnson, who replaces May, has reiterated that Britain will exit from the European Union on October 31.
He asserted that his ‘new and better deal’ will pave the way for Britain to develop a new and exciting partnership with the rest of Europe based on free trade and mutual support. (ANI)