Wanting a new start, Britain's May changes leadership team

[webfact]

Wanting a new start, Britain's May changes leadership team

By Elizabeth Piper and William James

 

Britain's Prime Minister Theresa May poses with Brandon Lewis and James Cleverly and other members of their teams outside 10 Downing Street, London, January 8, 2018. REUTERS/Simon Dawson

 

LONDON (Reuters) - British Prime Minister Theresa May named an ally to run the ruling Conservatives and promoted younger ministers on Monday to try to give her divided party and government a new start after a year marred by an ill-judged election, rows over Brexit and scandals.

 

May, weakened by the loss of the Conservative Party's majority in June's election gamble, hoped to reset her agenda and further Britain's departure from the European Union after winning a deal to move to a second phase of Brexit negotiations.

 

But by keeping her team's 'big beasts' - the finance, Brexit, foreign and interior ministers, some opposition lawmakers questioned her ability to fully reassert her authority with the reshuffle after the setbacks last year.

 

After a difficult start when her party had to delete a tweet naming the wrong person as its new chairman, May went on to promote more women, black and younger lawmakers to challenge critics who call the Conservatives "male, pale and stale".

 

"It's an opportunity to refresh the government and just to give added impetus to the prime minister's reform agenda while continuing to deliver on Brexit," her spokesman said.

 

Despite winning agreement from the EU to move Brexit talks to a discussion of future trade and a transitional deal, May has been criticised at home for her approach to healthcare, housing, transport and Britain's departure from the bloc.

 

Her Conservative Party is also reported to be losing members at a time when the main opposition Labour Party, under leftist leader Jeremy Corbyn, is enjoying record levels of support, suggesting to some that it is on course to win a new election due in 2022.

 

To combat this, May appointed two popular Conservatives to become the chairman and deputy chair of the party - immigration minister Brandon Lewis and lawmaker James Cleverly.

 

"I look forward to working with our dedicated membership, volunteers across the country and the excellent team in CCHQ (Conservative Campaign Headquarters) as we look ahead to elections this year and beyond," the 46-year-old Lewis, a supporter of May's leadership bid in 2016, said in a statement.

 

His move was welcomed by many in the party, who had criticised former chairman Patrick McLoughlin for failing to broaden the party's appeal and to prepare for the June election.

 

"(Lewis is) the type who might have the guts and inclination to take on the party internally and to be a loud media voice to take away the heat from Theresa May," a Conservative member said. "He's not usually scared of a fight."

 

Brexit minister David Davis, foreign minister Boris Johnson, finance minister Philip Hammond and interior minister Amber Rudd all kept their positions, along with Greg Clark who leads the business ministry.

 

David Lidington was appointed as minister for the cabinet office, replacing May's closest friend in parliament, Damian Green, who was forced to resign last year over misleading statements over pornography found on his computer.

 

But in a blow to her, the minister for Northern Ireland, James Brokenshire, stepped down because of ill-health. He had been trying to help officials form a power-sharing government to avoid any return to violence between pro-British unionists and Irish nationalists that scarred the province for decades.

 

He will be replaced a May loyalist, Karen Bradley.

 

The Liberal Democrats' Alistair Carmichael said the reshuffle could be summed up as "nothing has changed", repeating words used by May at one of the lowest points in her election campaign when she was forced to change policy over social care.

 

"Theresa May wanted to reassert her authority but has come out of this looking weaker than ever," he said in a statement.

 

(Additional reporting by Alistair Smout; Editing by Richard Balmforth)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2018-01-09

[hitext]

Racial equality in Britain in 2018: white people snuggled up together on the left...the black female a discreet distance apart on the right. Theresa May looks like she is wondering if she ought to be over on the right in the women's section.

[Laughing Gravy]

May the remainer will not change anything. If she wants change hand over to a leaver. But we know that won't happen, as she tries to appease the growing support for getting out of the EU and the bullying tactics they employ. I await for someone who has the gumption to say we have had enough and walking, as we tried to negotiate and the EU clearly just wants to punish the UK.

2 hours ago, webfact said:

May went on to promote more women, black and younger lawmakers to challenge critics who call the Conservatives "male, pale and stale".

If she was really promoting the cultural diversity of the UK there would be one person with a Jihab in the photo, another that couldn't speak English. I guess I will get flamed for pointing out the truth.

[Bluespunk]

7 minutes ago, Laughing Gravy said:

May the remainer will not change anything. If she wants change hand over to a leaver. But we know that won't happen, as she tries to appease the growing support for getting out of the EU and the bullying tactics they employ. I await for someone who has the gumption to say we have had enough and walking, as we tried to negotiate and the EU clearly just wants to punish the UK.

If she was really promoting the cultural diversity of the UK there would be one person with a Jihab in the photo, another that couldn't speak English. I guess I will get flamed for pointing out the truth.

You may get flamed, but it won’t be for “pointing out the truth”..

[John1012]

May is a dithering appeasing incompetent and should never have been voted in as PM. The conservative MP's should replace her, but they have no collective courage. Unfortunately there is no other option to govern the UK, that Corbyn cretin with his sidekick Jabbot the mathematician are unsuited for anything , both supported the IRA and by doing so have the blood of innocent Brits on their hands and should not be in any position of authority, the Lib/Dums are totally spineless... so basically we in the UK are f*cked...  

[Dagnabbit]

4 hours ago, hitext said:

Racial equality in Britain in 2018: white people snuggled up together on the left...the black female a discreet distance apart on the right. Theresa May looks like she is wondering if she ought to be over on the right in the women's section.

What on earth are you talking about?

 

You have white, asian, white, white, black then a space and the black girl.

 

I know SJWs like to play the race card - but your assertion is beyond ludicrous. Just more evidence of the sort of knee-jerk calls of racism used by those on the left.

 

50% ethnic is way above the percentage of ethnic population in the UK.

[alfieconn]

2 hours ago, Dagnabbit said:

What on earth are you talking about?

 

You have white, asian, white, white, black then a space and the black girl.

 

I know SJWs like to play the race card - but your assertion is beyond ludicrous. Just more evidence of the sort of knee-jerk calls of racism used by those on the left.

 

50% ethnic is way above the percentage of ethnic population in the UK.

To be fair a lot of the lefties are colour blind !   

Edited January 9, 2018 by alfieconn

[Bluespunk]

1 hour ago, alfieconn said:

To be fair a lot of the lefties are colour blind !   

That's because we judge people on who they are, not their external appearance.

 

We call it ''hate thinking free” though...

Edited January 9, 2018 by Bluespunk

[dunroaming]

May is in a very difficult position.  She has no majority, she cannot remove some of the cabinet in fear of a leadership challenge.  Greening refused to be moved and resigned from the cabinet.  Hunt refused to be moved from health and she has to keep Davis and Hammond in place.  The Conservatives know they haven't got the young vote and with Brexit looming the younger voters are far interested in getting involved than before.  Therefore she has to bring in people who will appeal to those younger voters.  Britain is a multi-racial country and it makes sense to bring in the best they can from who is available irrespective of their colour or sex.  Surely we have moved on from that crap by now?

 

Not sure if May has appointed a minister in charge of "leaving with no deal" but she was widely reported as doing so to work along side Davis.  That is clearly to appease the pro Brexit brigade.

[Retiredandhappyhere]

4 hours ago, John1012 said:

May is a dithering appeasing incompetent and should never have been voted in as PM. The conservative MP's should replace her, but they have no collective courage. Unfortunately there is no other option to govern the UK, that Corbyn cretin with his sidekick Jabbot the mathematician are unsuited for anything , both supported the IRA and by doing so have the blood of innocent Brits on their hands and should not be in any position of authority, the Lib/Dums are totally spineless... so basically we in the UK are f*cked...  

Can we take it that you are unhappy with the UK then?  What do you think of your neighbours, wherever you happen to live?

 

I am reminded of the old joke about the old farmer leaning on his gate when a couple drove up in their car and asked  him what the people were like around here, as they were thinking of moving into the area.  The farmer replied by asking them what the people were like where they now lived.  When they replied that the people back home were miserable and  unpleasant, the old wise farmer told them that they would find the people round here would be exactly the same.  

[dunroaming]

Breaking news is that International Trade Minister Mark Garnier is leaving the government.  Also leaving government are John Hayes, Philip Dunne, and Robert Goodwill.  Esther McVey is made work and pensions secretary. That really  beggars belief!

[MaeJoMTB]

Teresa May is mostly what's wrong with the team, maybe she should remove herself.

[MaeJoMTB]

11 hours ago, hitext said:

Racial equality in Britain in 2018: white people snuggled up together on the left...the black female a discreet distance apart on the right. Theresa May looks like she is wondering if she ought to be over on the right in the women's section.

Looks like at least two of the guys on the left aren't white.

Time for new glasses maybe?

[citybiker]

Teresa May is mostly what's wrong with the team, maybe she should remove herself.

TM was properly elected by her party & I see no suggestion of whom to replace PMTM.

Personally, #1 JRM or another pragmatic Euroskeptic.

Certainly not Amber Rudd, who only managed to hold onto her job in the last GE.

Anyway, come October the troublemakers who want to reverse the democratic vote will aim for the meaningful vote.

Lastly, it’s time to move forward, and the standard reshuffle is always going to be unpopular however being a commander you have to make unpopular decisions.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[Dagnabbit]

Looks like at least two of the guys on the left aren't white.
Time for new glasses maybe?

Apparently, having parents from Sierra Leone is the new white...

Sent from my SM-A720F using Tapatalk

[dunroaming]

58 minutes ago, citybiker said:

Lastly, it’s time to move forward, and the standard reshuffle is always going to be unpopular however being a commander you have to make unpopular decisions.

Totally agree with that and I don't think anyone would want her job as it is today, which is why nobody is sticking their head above the parapet.  I don't think that this re-shuffle tells us anything other that not having a majority means that May is in a weak position.

[citybiker]

Totally agree with that and I don't think anyone would want her job as it is today, which is why nobody is sticking their head above the parapet.  I don't think that this re-shuffle tells us anything other that not having a majority means that May is in a weak position.

To be fair the snap GE was Mays bloody nose & the current government maybe weak as a result but the alternative of the basket case Labour doesn’t bear thinking about.

Especially during the challenging turbulent times of the Brexit talks.

Once Brexit negotiations are complete the leadership contenders will raise they’re heads as most are too cowardly to consider it at the moment.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Laughing Gravy]

I would question why do we have to have cultural diversity and have positive discrimination. What happened to the best person for the job? Why do we have to have a percentage of one race and gender or LBGT. Political correctness gone mad IMHO and also something for the left wing luvvy liberals to moan about and try and use as a leverage in politics. The only reason I can think Diana Abbott is in her role due to her ethnicity and gender, as she certainly hasn't nothing else going for her.

[baboon]

21 hours ago, John1012 said:

May is a dithering appeasing incompetent and should never have been voted in as PM. The conservative MP's should replace her, but they have no collective courage. Unfortunately there is no other option to govern the UK, that Corbyn cretin with his sidekick Jabbot the mathematician are unsuited for anything , both supported the IRA and by doing so have the blood of innocent Brits on their hands and should not be in any position of authority, the Lib/Dums are totally spineless... so basically we in the UK are f*cked...  

Yeah. Because the Tories partner up with far more salubrious types, don't they?