David Cameron chaired his final cabinet
meeting on Tuesday after six years as Britain's
prime minister, with incoming premier Theresa
May preparing to form a new government to
deliver Brexit.
May led tributes to Cameron at the meeting,
which was described by ministers as
"emotional", and posed for photographers on
the steps of the premier's 10 Downing Street
residence afterwards.
Cameron's end has come sooner than
expected after dramatic twists in the contest to
replace him led to his swift exit from power
less than three weeks after the nation's
seismic vote to quit the European Union.
May is already under pressure to set out a
timetable for Brexit from EU leaders who warn
that a delay could prolong damaging economic
uncertainty.
"That's what I think a lot of people expect and
hope and call for," the European Commission's
economy chief Pierre Moscovici said in
Brussels.
Meanwhile Jean-Claude Juncker's spokesman
insisted the European Commission chief "can
cope" with negotiations with May, who on
Sunday warned he was about to find out how
"difficult" she can be.
On a visit to the headquarters of the governing
centre-right Conservative Party she now leads,
May issued an appeal for unity to push through
Britain's exit from the EU.
"Now, more than ever, we need to work
together, to deliver on Brexit, to build a country
that works for everyone, and to truly unite our
party and our country," she said.
She dismissed call for an early general election
to secure her own personal mandate.
"Let us redouble our efforts. And let us make
sure we put this time to good use, to build the
support we need to go to the country in four
years' time, and not just win, but win big," she
said.
Cameron announced he would step down after
leading the failed campaign for Britain to
remain in the EU, in the June 23 referendum.
Home Secretary May, the interior minister, was
declared the new Conservative leader on
Monday after junior energy minister Andrea
Leadsom, her only remaining challenger for the
post, withdrew from the contest.
- May mulls cabinet picks -
May is facing questions on when she plans to
trigger Article 50 -- the formal procedure for
withdrawal from the EU -- which would set a
two-year deadline for completing exit
negotiations.
While May supported Britain staying in the
bloc, she maintained a low profile during the
referendum campaign and insists she will
honour the popular vote, stressing on Monday:
"Brexit means Brexit".
Cameron was to face MPs in parliament for a
final time on Wednesday in the weekly prime
minister's questions session, before meeting
Queen Elizabeth II to tender his resignation.
The monarch will then invite May, the leader of
the majority party in parliament, to form a
fresh government.
May, 59, will become Britain's second female
prime minister after Conservative titan
Margaret Thatcher.
As she fills the major roles in her government,
May will have to keep Leave-supporting
Conservative heavyweights onside if she is to
heal the splits in the party caused by the
referendum.
One key figure who will be staying on in 10
Downing Street is Larry the cat, the Cabinet
Office confirmed.
As Cameron visited a school set up by
teachers in 2012 to highlight one of the his
government's major reforms, a van full of
removal men arrived at Downing Street who
began unloading moving boxes.
On the markets, the pound rebounded against
the dollar, shooting back above $1.30 on the
political developments -- although it pushed
London's FTSE 100 share index slightly down
compared to Tuesday's opening level.
- Labour opposition in turmoil -
Meanwhile, Tuesday was proving a landmark
day for the main opposition Labour Party,
whose embattled leader Jeremy Corbyn --
hugely popular with grassroots members -- is
facing a leadership challenge from Angela
Eagle after losing the confidence of at least 75
percent of his MPs.
The party's ruling National Executive
Committee was in lockdown deciding whether
incumbent Corbyn needs, like Eagle, to secure
the support of 20 percent of fellow party MPs
and members of the European Parliament to
get his name on the leadership contest ballot.
The party's rules are ambiguous, but lawyers
for one NEC member have threatened an
immediate High Court injunction if Corbyn is
not automatically put on the ballot.
Eagle urged Corbyn to "get control" of his
supporters after a brick was hurled through her
office window. Corbyn called for calm as he
condemned the violence and intimidation
surrounding the leadership challenge.

Source: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/07/cameron-chairs-last-cabinet-british-pm/

The Brexit is still inconclusive