Cameron bows out, May becomes PM

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LONDON, July 13, (Agencies): Outgoing British prime minister David Cameron admitted it had not been an “easy journey” as he left office after six years on Wednesday wishing his country “continued success” in its post-Brexit future. Speaking outside the premier’s Downing Street office before making the short journey to Buckingham Palace to tender his resignation to Queen Elizabeth II, Cameron said: “It’s not been an easy journey and, of course, we’ve not got every decision right but I do believe today our country is much stronger.”

In his final question and answer session in the House of Commons, Cameron said he would “miss the roar of the crowd and the barbs from the opposition” that came with the job he has held since 2010. Pointing wistfully to the capricious winds of politics that abruptly ended his career, he said: “I was the future once.” Cameron, 49, quit after Britain voted to leave the European Union in a June 23 referendum he called in an attempt to stop his Conservative Party “banging on about Europe” but sensationally lost. Flanked by his wife and three children, he wished Britain “continued success”.

Earlier he imparted some advice to Theresa May, his long-time interior minister who will be installed as premier Wednesday. “My advice to my successor, who is a brilliant negotiator, is that we should try to be as close to the European Union as we can be, for the benefits of trade, of co-operation and of security,” he said in parliament, with May sitting beside him. Earlier, Cameron made his final appearance as prime minister in Parliament, turning the usually raucous prime minister’s questions session into a time for praise, thanks, gentle ribbing, cheers — and a sprinkle of criticism.

He even poked fun at himself, reminding legislators of a barb he directed at then-Prime Minister Tony Blair more than a decade ago: “He was the future once.” “As I once said, I was the future once,” Cameron noted, as his wife and children watched from the public gallery. Despite the suddenness of Cameron’s exit — less than three weeks after the June 23 referendum on Britain’s membership in the EU — he appeared relaxed and confident as he absorbed both praise and carping from opposition lawmakers.

Replying to Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, who is facing his own leadership challenge from two Labour lawmakers, Cameron poked fun at Labour’s leadership turmoil, noting that the Tories had had “resignation, nomination, competition and coronation” while Labour is still working out the rules for its contest.

Promising
Meanwhile, theresa May became Britain’s new prime minister on Wednesday, promising to carve out a bold new future in the world as she embarks on the monumental task of leading the country out of the European Union.

May, 59 assumed office after an audience with Queen Elizabeth and drove straight to her new home of 10 Downing Street, vacated hours earlier by David Cameron. “We will rise to the challenge. As we leave the European Union we will forge a bold new positive role for ourselves in the world, and we will make Britain a country that works not for a privileged few, but for every one of us,” she said. Cameron stepped down after Britons rejected his entreaties and voted to leave the EU in a referendum last month, severely undermining European efforts to forge greater unity and creating economic uncertainty across the 28-nation bloc.

May must try to limit the damage to British trade and investment as she renegotiates the country’s ties with its 27 EU partners. She will also attempt to unite a divided ruling Conservative party and a fractured nation in which many, on the evidence of the vote, feel angry with the political elite and left behind by the forces of globalisation.

Acknowledging the struggles faced by many Britons, 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. “When we take the big calls we’ll think not of the powerful but you, when we pass new laws we’ll listen not to the mighty but to you, when it comes to taxes we’ll prioritise not the wealthy but you.” The United States congratulated May and said it was confident in her ability to steer Britain through the Brexit negotiations

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