New UK PM’s surprising first move

THERESA May has only been Britain’s new female Prime Minister for a few hours, but she’s already made a shock move.

British Prime Minister Theresa May and husband Philip May outside 10 Downing Street on July 13, 2016 in London, England. Former Home Secretary Theresa May becomes the UK's second female Prime Minister after she was selected unopposed by Conservative MPs to be their new party leader. She is currently MP for Maidenhead. (Photo by Carl Court/Getty Images)

NEW British Prime Minister Theresa May has made a surprising first move in the job, appointing former London mayor Boris Johnson foreign secretary.

Mr Johnson was a leading figure in the victorious “Leave” campaign in Britain’s European Union referendum last month. He had been considered the frontrunner to become prime minister himself, before being sidelined by moves against him within the ruling Conservative Party.

Boris Johnson waves as he leaves Downing St after being appointed Foreign Secretary. Picture: Jack Taylor/Getty Images

Mr Johnson’s role in Britain’s negotiations over its future relationship with the EU is likely to be limited because Mrs May has created a new ministerial post focused exclusively on Brexit issues.

Nevertheless Mr Johnson, who’s among the least diplomatic politicians in the country, will now be conducting sensitive diplomacy on Britain’s behalf.

Say hello to Britain's new lead ambassador to the world, Mr. Boris Johnson pic.twitter.com/FUjyjhimyV

— Historical Pics (@HistoricalPics) July 13, 2016

This is a man who once said Hillary Clinton - potentially the next US president - was “like a sadistic nurse in a mental hospital” and “a mixture between Cherie Blair and Lady Macbeth”. He called Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan a “wankerer”, and labelled former president George W. Bush “a cross-eyed Texan warmonger”.

Clearly, diplomacy has never been Mr Johnson’s strongest suit, so for many people the thought of him becoming foreign secretary is downright scary. The reaction of Labour leadership candidate Angela Eagle when she heard the news pretty much sums up how those people feel.

This is how @angelaeagle reacted the moment she found out Boris Johnson was the new foreign secretary #reshufflehttps://t.co/1MPy3BsdHB

— Press Association (@PA) July 13, 2016

Whitehouse watches as the news of Boris Johnson to Foreign Office breaks. pic.twitter.com/sFrt8Y9t1n

— Tim Brannigan (@tim_brannigan) July 13, 2016

Boris Johnson is now in charge of MI5, MI6 & GCHQ pic.twitter.com/OiLLNLo3yU

— Andy Jolley (@ajjolley) July 13, 2016

In his new job, Mr Johnson, who has never previously held a cabinet post, will have to address questions about Britain’s role in the world after its exit from the EU, and he will inherit an often difficult relationship with Russia.

His predecessor in the job was Philip Hammond, who has been named chancellor of the exchequer - the equivalent of Australia’s treasurer.

By awarding such a senior job to Mr Johnson, Mrs May has shown a conciliatory side. The two had clashed over policing in London while Mr Johnson was serving as mayor. And since last month’s vote, for which he campaigned vigorously, Mr Johnson had suffered widespread criticism and ridicule for failing to present a clear Brexit plan and swiftly dropping out of the leadership race.

With his unkempt blonde hair, bumbling humour and penchant for Latin quotations, the man known to Brits simply as “Boris” will be the government’s most colourful figure.

When you find out Boris Johnson is responsible for MI6. pic.twitter.com/nuziVVA7ly

— Joe Trigg (@Joe_Trigg) July 13, 2016

British Foreign Policy under Boris Johnson: pic.twitter.com/o6JKQgVHHC

— BlueCityZen (@BlueCitizen007) July 13, 2016

Boris Johnson running over that Japanese kid is a great example of the grace I'm sure he'll bring to his new job. pic.twitter.com/ckHewxmzXc

— Miriti Murungi (@NutmegRadio) July 13, 2016

Among other appointments, rising star Amber Rudd switched from the energy ministry to take Mrs May’s old job as home secretary. Mrs May will be Queen Elizabeth’s 13th prime minister in a line that started with Winston Churchill. An official photograph showed her curtsying to the smiling monarch.

She is also Britain’s second female head of government after Margaret Thatcher.

Seen as a tough, competent and intensely private person, already being compared to Germany’s Angela Merkel, she must now try to limit the damage to British trade and investment as she renegotiates the country’s ties with its 27 EU partners.

Prime Minister David Cameron leaves 10 Downing St for the last time, with his wife Samantha. Picture: Christopher Furlong/Getty Images

She will also attempt to unite a fractured nation in which many, on the evidence of the referendum, feel angry with the political elite and left behind by the forces of globalisation.

In comments addressed to ordinary Britons, she spoke of the “burning injustice” suffered by large sections of society: poor people facing shorter life expectancy; blacks treated more harshly by the criminal justice system; women earning less than men; the mentally ill; and young people struggling to buy homes.

Acknowledging the struggles faced by many people, Mrs May declared: “The government I lead will be driven not be the interests of the privileged few, but by yours. We will do everything we can to give you more control over your lives.”

— with wires