London: Theresa May will become Britain’s second woman prime minister after Margaret Thatcher as the tough-talking leader is set to take charge with a heavy workload already waiting in her in-tray after the Brexit vote.
The 59-year-old Conservative party leader’s first task will be to put in place a frontline team that can help her through the challenges of negotiating Britain’s exit from the European Union, having promised that “Brexit means Brexit”. May’s spokesperson said work is already under way to set up a new department dedicated to negotiating Britain’s exit from the 28-member European Union.
“Civil servants have already been charged with finding a building to house the Brexit department – an indication of May’s commitment to get on with delivering the verdict of the EU referendum. Brexit means Brexit and we’re going to make a success of it,” the spokesperson said.
Tough-talking May is expected to bring a very different flavour to Downing Street, with her penchant for flamboyant shoes and no-nonsense attitude.
Britain’s second-ever female Prime Minister since Thatcher’s term in 1979-1990 is widely expected to champion the cause of women in politics and a series of female Tory MPs are set for prominent roles in her Cabinet. Ndian-origin employment minister, Priti Patel, can expect a promotion from a junior ministerial role.
