New Prime Minister Theresa May showed a ruthless streak on Thursday in building a cabinet to lead Britain’s exit from the European Union, while her finance minister said he would do whatever was necessary to restore confidence in the economy.
A day after replacing David Cameron, May moved to impose her authority by axing a handful of prominent ministers including Justice Secretary Michael Gove, a leading ‘Brexit’ campaigner who had staged his own bid for prime minister.
Her most contentious appointment is Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson, who compared the EU’s aims to those of Hitler and Napoleon during the campaign leading up to Britain’s vote last month to quit the 28-nation bloc.
The surprise choice drew a withering response from French Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault, who described the ex-London mayor as a liar.
May’s new government faces the task of extricating Britain from the EU – itself reeling from the shock of Brexit.
