Theresa May makes Boris Johnson foreign secretary

Theresa May has dramatically reshaped the British government within hours of becoming prime minister, appointing Boris Johnson as foreign secretary and dropping outgoing chancellor George Osborne from the government altogether. David Davis, who campaigned for Brexit alongside Mr Johnson, will lead the negotiations to leave the European Union.

Another pro-Brexit campaigner, former defence secretary Liam Fox, will be international trade secretary. Former foreign secretary Philip Hammond is the new chancellor of the exchequer and energy secretary Amber Rudd succeeds Ms May as home secretary.

Ms May’s first call with a foreign leader was with German chancellor Angela Merkel, but she also spoke with Enda Kenny, who congratulated her on behalf of the Government and people of Ireland.

The Taoiseach said they discussed a range of issues, including the implications of Britain’s decision to leave the EU. “I outlined Ireland’s key areas of concern and shared my perspective on the challenges that lie ahead in the forthcoming negotiations,” he said.

The new prime minister announced her first cabinet appointments last night less than two hours after moving into 10 Downing Street. On her arrival, she made a bold statement of ambition for her government, promising to fight the injustice that limits the life chances of those born into misfortune. She addressed part of her speech to those who were struggling to make ends meet, many of whom voted to leave the EU last month, promising to give them more control over their lives.

Fresh stamp

Ms May’s first cabinet appointments demonstrated her determination to put a fresh stamp on the government after six years under

David Cameron

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Mr Johnson’s appointment was the biggest surprise, giving him a crucial role in forging Britain’s new role outside the EU.

During the referendum campaign, Mr Johnson suggested US president Barack Obama’s Kenyan heritage had left him with an anti-British animus. In May, the former London mayor wrote a poem satirising Turkey’s president Recep Tayyip Erdogan, with references to bestiality and masturbation.

Mr Davis, who was Europe minister under John Major in the 1990s, is a veteran Eurosceptic who lost the 2005 Conservative leadership race to Mr Cameron. He has often clashed with Ms May over issues surrounding individual liberty and the surveillance powers of the security services.

Dr Fox, who sought the leadership in 2005 and this year, resigned as defence secretary in 2011 following a controversy over his relationship with a lobbyist, Adam Werrity.