Theresa May has called for unity and a successful Brexit after being named Britain’s next prime minister, and the second woman ever to take on the job.
May’s rival for the top job Andrea Leadsom pulled out of the race last night, saying that “strong leadership is urgently needed” and that the country will be best served by an immediate appointment.
May, who currently serves as British Home Secretary, says she’ll set out how to “take our economy through this period of uncertainty” and that despite supporting the ‘Remain’ side during the referendum that ‘Brexit means Brexit’.
Leadsom’s decision to pull out followed heavy criticism over a newspaper interview in which she implied that being a mother of three gave her more of a stake in the future of the country than her opponent, who has no children.
Who is Theresa May?
The fifty-nine-year old has served in one of the British Cabinet’s toughest positions, as Home Secretary, for six years.Born in Sussex, and the daughter of a Protestant clergyman, she later studied at Oxford and started her career with the Bank of England.
She entered Parliament in 1998, and later became the first female Chairman of the Conservative Party. She held the office of Minister for Women and Equality from 2010 to 2012, an appointment initially criticised given her former stance on LGBT rights, she later gave her support for same-sex marriage in 2012.
May’s been described as having a “ruthless streak who gets on with the job” by the Financial Times, and compared to German Chancellor Angela Merkel. TIME magazine says she’s “known for her austere demeanour and enigmatic private life.” She’s also described as a regular church goer, a Liberal conservative and gender equality supporter.
In a short statement outside Parliament upon accepting leadership of the party, she stated her key priorities for Britain: the need for strong leadership and unity; the success of Brexit; a vision for the future and a goal to ensure that Britain works for everyone.
May’s got a huge job ahead. Good luck to her.
Theresa May’s our first ever ‘Daily Agenda Setter’, a title we give out each morning in the Women’s Agenda email update. Subscribe in the menu bar above.
