Page 8 - ARUBA TODAY

A8 WORLD NEWS
Monday 12 June 2017

Tottering Theresa May names new UK Cabinet as critics circle

By JILL LAWLESS minority administration, changes. All the most se- ter. short of the 326 needed
Associated Press and lawmakers said the re- nior ministers — including May also reappointed an for an outright majority. La-
LONDON (AP) — Embattled buff from voters meant the Treasury chief Philip Ham- old adversary — Michael bour surpassed expecta-
British Prime Minister Theresa government will have to mond, Foreign Secretary Gove, a former rival for the tions by winning 262.
May appointed ministers to abandon planned policies Boris Johnson, Defense Sec-
her shaky government Sun- and re-think its strategy for retary Michael Fallon and
day, as some Conservative European Union exit talks. Home Secretary Amber
colleagues rallied to sup- A stream of senior law- Rudd — kept their jobs and
port her — and others said makers entered May’s 10 there were few changes in
her days were numbered Downing St. office Sunday the Cabinet lineup.
after last week’s disastrous afternoon, to learn what Damian Green, a lawmak-
election. roles they had been given er in the pro-EU wing of the
May is seeking a deal with in government. party, was promoted to first
a Northern Irish party to May’s weakened position secretary of state — effec-
prop up the Conservative in the party ruled out big tively deputy prime minis-

Britain’s Prime Minister Theresa May arrives to attend Holy Com-
munion at St Andrew’s Church in Sonning, Berkshire, England,
Sunday, June 11, 2017. May is under pressure after the Conser-
vatives lost their parliamentary majority in Thursday’s election.
(Jonathan Brady/PA Wire(/PA via AP)

Conservative leadership Former Treasury chief
whom May fired from the George Osborne — who
Cabinet when she took of- was fired by May last year
fice last year. The pro-Brexit — called May a “dead
Gove was appointed Envi- woman walking,” and La-
ronment Secretary. bour leader Jeremy Cor-
May shrugged off sugges- byn said he was ready to
tions her days in Downing contest another election
St. were numbered. at any time.
Asked if she is now just a Many senior Conservatives
caretaker leader, May not- say May should stay, for
ed that “I said during the now, to provide stability.
election campaign that if But few believe she can
elected I would intend to hang on for more than a
serve a full term.” few months.
But rumors swirled of plots “I think her position is, in
to oust May. Johnson — a the long term, untenable,”
former Tory leadership con- Conservative lawmaker
tender — denied he was Anna Soubry told Sky News.
planning a leadership chal- But Graham Brady, who
lenge. He tweeted that an chairs the influential 1922
article in the Mail on Sun- Committee of backbench
day newspaper headlined Conservative lawmakers,
“Boris set to launch bid to said a “self-indulgent” par-
be PM as May clings on” ty leadership campaign
was “tripe.” would only cause more
In a WhatsApp message uncertainty. He acknowl-
to Conservative lawmak- edged that the govern-
ers, Johnson said: “Folks we ment would now be un-
need to calm down and able to get many of the
get behind the prime minis- measures promised in its
ter.” In Thursday’s election election platform through
the Conservatives won 318 Parliament.
of the 650 House of Com- May called the election
mons seats, 12 fewer than called in a bid to strength-
the party had before the en her mandate ahead of
snap election, and eight EU exit talks. q