Theresa May to step down, Boris Johnson to become U.K. prime minister, in elaborate transition of power - The Washington Post

British Prime Minister Theresa May takes questions for the last time in parliament before traveling to Buckingham Palace to formally submit her resignation.

The British government is in transition on Wednesday, as Prime Minister Theresa May steps down and Boris Johnson takes her place. Here’s how the day will unfold:

●May hosted her last session of Prime Minister’s Questions in Parliament and will soon deliver farewell remarks at 10 Downing Street.

● May will then submit her resignation to Queen Elizabeth II at Buckingham Palace.

● Johnson will formally become prime minister following his own audience with the queen.

● Johnson will deliver his first speech at Downing Street and begin to form his cabinet.

LONDON — Boris Johnson awoke Wednesday to a pile of British newspapers on his doorstep announcing his victory — some celebratory, some not. The Metro tabloid went with “Don’t Panic!” as an all-caps headline. The Express front page read, “Hang Onto Your Hats. Here Comes Boris!”

The transition of power in Britain is lightening quick. The United Kingdom is not without a premier for more than an hour. The outgoing Prime Minister Theresa May will curtsy to the Queen Wednesday afternoon and resign. Johnson will bow and be asked to form a new government.

When Johnson walks through the black enameled door of 10 Downing Street on Wednesday afternoon, he will fulfill what his biographers describe as his relentless “blond ambition” to follow his hero, Winston Churchill, into Britain’s top job.

He will immediately face the buzz saw of Brexit. And although his supporters hope the charismatic Johnson will rally a divided Parliament and a divided country in a way that Theresa May failed to do, he comes into office as a controversial leader, not especially well-liked by most Brits.

Johnson — a bombastic, Latin-quoting Oxford classicist with a mop of intentionally mussed yellow hair — made his name as an over-the-top journalist and a colorful London mayor. He then galvanized the successful Brexit campaign in 2016, which won him many fans and many enemies. 

[Who is Boris Johnson? Everything you need to know about Britain’s next prime minister.]

On Wednesday, the transition began when Theresa May appeared in the House of Commons for her last session of prime minister’s questions, a weekly exchange between the ruling government and the opposition, as tradition dictates, “two sword lengths apart.”

There were many lines applauding May’s term and her 33 years in public service, and many calling her a failure.

When Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn laid into May, saying that under her tenure, child poverty was up, pensioner poverty was up, school class size was up, food bank use was up — May retorted that she was proud of her record. “That’s what my government has delivered. More jobs, healthier finances and an economy fit for the future.”

May eyed Corbyn and poked him with her blade: “As a party leader who has accepted when her time was up, perhaps the time is now for him to do the same.”

Theresa May tells Jeremy Corbyn to quit during her last exchange in Parliament as prime minister with the Labour leader.

May offered tepid support for her successor, whom opposition rivals called “flagrant” and “reckless,” a usurper with no mandate, and someone who is prepared to “sell our country out to Donald Trump and his friends.”

May said she was “pleased” to hand over to Johnson, whom I worked with when he was in my cabinet,” and who is committed to delivering Brexit. Johnson notably quit May’s Cabinet over her handling of Brexit.

After she steps down as leader, May will return to the back benches of Parliament as an ordinary and not very influential lawmaker.

Outside the House of Commons, Fleet Street was in a tizzy over possible picks for Johnson’s team — including the “great offices of state” — the chancellor, foreign secretary and home secretary — and what they could mean for Brexit and his style of governing. Johnson has just 99 days to find a Brexit solution. Otherwise, he has warned that Britain might accept the economic risk of leaving the bloc without a withdrawal agreement or transition period.

Will Johnson lean towards compromise? Or tilt towards a ‘no deal’ Brexit? The line-up of his top team could also signal whether he intends to govern, as he suggested on the campaign trail, like he did as mayor of London, where he was known as a liberal Conservative.

Britain’s newspapers heralded former London Mayor Boris Johnson as he prepared to take over as prime minister, July 24.

May will soon deliver farewell remarks at Downing Street and then travel to Buckingham Palace — probably under the watchful eye of hovering media helicopters — where she will tender her resignation to Queen Elizabeth II and recommend Johnson as the person who can command the confidence of the House of Commons. 

After May’s car leaves the palace, one carrying Johnson will arrive for a ceremony known as “kissing hands.”

In the movie “The Queen,” starring Helen Mirren, the actor playing Tony Blair kissed the hand of the monarch, but in reality, there’s more likely to be shaking hands. Theresa May shook hands and curtseyed — deeply — during her meeting with the queen when she became prime minister.

Adrian Dennis

AFP/Getty Images

Britain's new Prime Minister Theresa May and her husband, Philip, stand outside 10 Downing Street on July 13, 2016.

Johnson will be the queen’s 14th prime minister. Over the course of her long reign, Elizabeth II has seen them come and go: Winston Churchill, Anthony Eden, Harold Macmillan, Alec Douglas-Home, Harold Wilson, Edward Heath, James Callaghan, Margaret Thatcher, John Major, Tony Blair, Gordon Brown, David Cameron, Theresa May and now Johnson.

Much attention today will focus on his remarks after he leaves the palace. The first speech a prime minister delivers is heavily scrutinized and often long remembered. 

For her first speech as prime minister, May talked of tackling “burning injustices” in society and leading a government that worked for everyone, not the “privileged few.” Those promises for a Tory-led “social justice” program were often thrown back in her face, when May mostly failed to address those issues. She was consumed with Brexit. The same could happen to her successor.

Matt Hancock, a Conservative politician who has been helping with Johnson’s campaign, told the BBC he expected Johnson’s speech to include “a surprising amount of detail, especially on the domestic agenda.” He said that, at the same time as delivering Brexit, Johnson wanted to focus on domestic issues and pointed out that on the campaign trail Johnson spoke about education, social care and policing.

Once prime minister, Johnson is expected to start naming his new team and new cabinet. Johnson has said he wants a cabinet rich with pro-Brexit voices — with each chair filled by someone who is okay with the incoming prime minister’s vow, that if he does not get the Brexit deal he wants from Europe, then Britain will crash out with no deal.

Johnson handily won the leadership contest on Tuesday. The former foreign secretary Johnson captured 92,153 votes to current foreign secretary Jeremy Hunt’s 46,656 — a decisive victory. 

Tolga Akmen

AFP/Getty Images

New Conservative Party leader and incoming prime minister Boris Johnsonleaves his campaign office in central London on Tuesday.

But the vote involved only dues-paying members of the Conservative Party. A mere 139,000 people cast ballots in a country of 66 million. A lot of Britons feel left out at a pivotal moment. On social media, #NotMyPM was one of the many Johnson-related hashtags trending. A YouGov survey found that 58 percent of Brits have a negative opinion of Johnson — a wicked-high number for a first day on the job.

The 55-year-old Johnson will take up residence at Downing Street. His 31-year-old girlfriend, Carrie Symonds, a former Conservative Party communications official and a top Tory spinner, may move in over the weekend, according to British news reports. Expect a lot of tabloid interest in this unprecedented arrangement.

When Johnson clocks in, he will face an overflowing in-tray of items that need urgent attention, including a showdown in the Persian Gulf with a belligerent Iran. The two countries have been in a tense standoff since Britain impounded an Iranian tanker suspected of sending oil to Syria, and Iran retaliated by seizing a British-flagged oil tanker last week.

Politics watchers are keen to see whether Johnson continues Britain’s effort to salvage the 2015 deal designed to discourage Iran from developing nuclear weapons, or whether he bends to U.S. pressure to impose sanctions on Iran.

[Want to understand Boris Johnson, Britain’s probable next prime minister? Read his incendiary journalism.]

But Johnson’s main challenge will be getting Britain out of the European Union.

May’s failure to deliver Brexit on time was the reason her Tory lawmakers ousted her.

Read more

Who is Boris Johnson? His life in photos.

Boris Johnson wins vote to be U.K. prime minister

Theresa May packs her bags, her legacy dominated by failure

Want to understand Boris Johnson? Read his journalism.

What Boris Johnson said about Trump when he wasn’t being so diplomatic

Boris Johnson says he’s prepared for a no-deal Brexit. Critics say he’s reckless.

Boris Johnson’s rise could be a preamble to his fall

Today’s coverage from Post correspondents around the world

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https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/europe/boris-johnson-uk-prime-minister/2019/07/24/42bce126-ac93-11e9-9411-a608f9d0c2d3_story.html

2019-07-24 11:59:01Z
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Iran tanker seizure: Owner makes first contact with crew - BBC News

The crew of a British-flagged tanker that was seized in the Gulf are "safe", the vessel's owner has said after speaking to them for the first time.

The British-flagged Stena Impero and its 23 crew were taken by Iran's Revolutionary Guard on Friday.

The owner, Stena Bulk, made contact on Tuesday with the ship's master who said they were safe and there was good co-operation with the Iranians on board.

The vessel seizure came amid heightened tensions between Iran and the UK.

Iran said it had detained the Stena Impero on 19 July because it collided with a fishing boat, but Stena Bulk has said it has received no evidence of a collision.

The firm said the family members of the crew - who are Indian, Russian, Latvian and Filipino - were being kept updated on the latest developments and being offered its full support.

Its chief executive, Erik Hanell, said he hoped the phone contact was "a first sign that we will soon see more positive progress from the Iranian authorities".

A spokesman for Stena Bulk said the next step would be to try and get somebody on board to check on the crew, but there was no timeline for when they might be repatriated.

On Monday, Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt called on Iran to release the tanker and its crew, describing its seizure as "state piracy".

The same day Iranian state media released images which appeared to show cooks preparing meals and crew members being briefed by an Iranian official.

Meanwhile, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani has praised Iran's Revolutionary Guard for the seizure in the Strait of Hormuz, saying they were "brave" and acted in a "professional" manner.

Mr Rouhani added that the Strait of Hormuz - a key shipping route - was "no place for games" and no country could ignore international rules, his official website reported.

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Tensions between the UK and Iran deteriorated earlier this month when Royal Marines seized an Iranian tanker near Gibraltar which was suspected of breaking EU sanctions.

In response to the incident, Iran threatened to seize a British oil tanker.

Relations between Iran and the US have also deteriorated, after the White House tightened sanctions on Tehran following its withdrawal from the 2015 nuclear deal.

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2019-07-24 10:28:52Z
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If Boris Johnson shifts his Brexit plans, the pound could trade 'north of $1.35,' says UBS - CNBC

Newly elected leader of the Conservative party Boris Johnson leaves Conservative party HQ in London, after it was announced that he will become the next Prime Minister.

Stefan Rousseau | PA Images | Getty Images

Incoming British Prime Minister Boris Johnson may need to rethink his stance on Brexit, given Parliament's opposition to a so-called hard Brexit, a UBS investor projected on Wednesday. That's likely to impact the weakened pound, he said.

Johnson, who won the race to the lead country on Tuesday, previously said the U.K. must leave the European Union by Oct. 31 "do or die, come what may."

But that may not continue to be his outlook as he weighs the best path forward.

"Being a prime minister, things can change, and so maybe we also think about a little bit of an extension to the Brexit negotiation," Dominic Schnider, head for commodities and Asia Pacific foreign exchange at UBS Global Wealth Management, told CNBC's "Squawk Box."

Should Johnson soften his perspective on Brexit, there will be consequences for the British pound, Schnider projected.

"If the market realizes that the hard Brexit probability starts to shrink, I think the pound can come back. So we're probably going to trade north of $1.30, $1.35, somewhere there," Schnider said.

The pound closed at $1.2436 on Tuesday, edging near the two-year trough of $1.2382 it brushed last week. The pound is down more than 13% since the U.K. voted to leave the EU on June 23, 2016. 

Recent sterling lows have been attributed to Johnson's insistence on Brexit.

"In our view, Johnson's desire to push for Brexit, deal or no deal, increases the chance of an early general election and some possibly (of) nasty GBP outcomes," Rodrigo Catril, senior foreign exchange strategist at National Australia Bank, wrote in a recent note.

A reduced probability of an upcoming British election, due to disagreements on Brexit between Parliament and Johnson, could also give the pound a lift, Schnider told CNBC.

However, he noted that it wasn't necessarily the election's outcome that would make a difference to sterling.

What's more important for traders, he said, is the sentiment about whether "the U.K. and European Union jointly try to solve this issue and not depart in an unfriendly way."

A "no-deal" Brexit, which investors are concerned will happen come Halloween, will mean the U.K. leaves the European bloc without reaching a formal deal. That is, there would be no transitional period for the British government to negotiate free trade deals. Many have suggested such a disorderly exit risks damaging the U.K. economy.

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2019-07-24 08:15:36Z
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The Queen officially decides who becomes Prime Minister. Here's what else happens in the next few days - CNN International

On Wednesday afternoon, Johnson will visit Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, who will officially invite the new leader of the UK's governing Conservative party to form a government.

After his short meeting with the Queen, the new prime minister and his new principal private secretary will travel back to Downing Street, where, traditionally, new PMs give a speech to the nation outside the black door of Number 10.

Before all of that, outgoing leader Theresa May will address lawmakers in the House of Commons at her last-ever session of Prime Minister's Questions -- the raucous Punch and Judy show that takes place every week that parliament sits.

Prime ministers often use their final PMQs to settle political scores and thank loyal supporters. Given the nightmare through which May has attempted to govern, people who love political theater will be hoping for a good dose of the former.

After her final address to the Commons, May will travel to Buckingham Palace and inform the Queen that she is resigning as PM.

Tradition is that May would then suggest another person who is best placed to form a government and that the Queen would invite this individual to the palace.

That's the formal stuff, now for the politics.

After walking into Downing Street for the first time, a new prime minister has a couple of pressing issues to address. First, the civil service will brief the new leader on everything -- yes, everything -- they need to know for the job.

There are other tasks that need doing in the first week. From issuing instructions on what the UK's ballistic submarines should do if London is taken out in a nuclear strike, to arranging advisers and political appointments, it's a hectic period.

More immediately, Johnson will need to get on with forming his government. Right now, no one knows who the new PM will ask to serve. During the leadership contest, he attracted admirers from across the entire Conservative party.

Rumors are wild, but the common consensus in Westminster is that more people believe they are in the running for jobs than there are vacancies. This would mean that Johnson may have to let a lot of people down in his very first week.

Whoever is appointed, it will be seen as the first sign of what kind of prime minister he intends to be, especially when it comes to Brexit.

We know that Johnson's preferred option is a deal with Europe that is significantly different from the one that May negotiated. He is also committed to leaving without a deal on October 31, if necessary.

There are two key questions here: First, how different does that deal have to be? Second, how committed is he to no deal?

The broad Johnson coalition contains people who were consistently loyal to May's softer approach to Brexit and, in contrast, some of the hardest Euroskeptics in the Conservative party. He has a lot of talent to pick from and the formation of his new-look government will be watched closely, both in London and Brussels.

However, this might all be academic. It's no secret that May has left a political mess behind her. This leadership contest and the razzamatazz of Johnson's campaign has been a bit of a distraction. There might be a new top team, but Johnson will stride into Downing Street facing many of the same problems as May.

He has no majority in the House of Commons. His party is bitterly divided over Brexit. The nation is losing trust in politicians and political institutions. The opposition Labour party is primed to bring Johnson down and force a general election. And the Europeans, with whom he hopes to negotiate a new deal, are far less trusting of Johnson than they were of May.

It may come to be that after electing such a divisive figure -- for some, Johnson embodies the worst aspects of a political party loathed by a decent chunk of the population -- the Conservatives find themselves fighting an early election with a leader who alienates a large number of the people who voted Remain in 2016. And remember, that victory was far from emphatic.

So, after he meets the Queen to collect his crown (not literally), Johnson has his work cut out for him. The boy who dreamed of being prime minister might find on day one that he is a weaker leader than his long-suffering predecessor. Thank goodness parliament is due to rise for the summer on Friday and not return until September.

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2019-07-24 07:00:10Z
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China Hints at Use of Force in Hong Kong and Says U.S. Is Undermining Stability - The New York Times

BEIJING — China on Wednesday warned that it would not tolerate protesters’ efforts to threaten the central government’s authority in Hong Kong and suggested that it could, if necessary, mobilize troops in the People’s Liberation Army garrison there to maintain order.

The warning came as the government released a new defense strategy that accused the United States of undermining global stability and identified separatism as China’s most immediate security threat.

In the case of Hong Kong, the chief spokesman for the Ministry of National Defense, Senior Col. Wu Qian, cited the protests on Sunday outside the central government’s liaison office in Hong Kong, which protesters painted with graffiti, suggesting that instances of violence were straining Beijing’s patience.

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The chief spokesman for China’s Ministry of National Defense, Senior Col. Wu Qian, during a news conference in Beijing on Wednesday. He said that the behavior of some radical protesters in Hong Kong “cannot be tolerated.”CreditAndy Wong/Associated Press

“The behavior of some radical protesters challenges the central government’s authority, touching on the bottom line principle of ‘one country, two systems,’” Colonel Wu said during a news conference announcing the new security strategy. “That absolutely cannot be tolerated.”

He pointedly cited a specific article in the Basic Law, which details relations between the city and Beijing, that allows the People’s Liberation Army to intervene to maintain order or assist in cases of natural disasters, when asked by Hong Kong’s leaders.

Beijing’s defense strategy, the first to be released in six years, also refused to rule out the use of force against Taiwan, which China claims as its territory, in the event the self-governing democracy took any formal steps toward independence. The document cited “external forces” that support such moves, an oblique reference to the United States, which has long provided political and military support to Taiwan.

The warnings about what are, to China, core matters of sovereignty underlined growing concern about threats to the central authority of the Communist Party government under Xi Jinping, who has repeatedly pledged never to cede any territory. Although China has long warned Taiwan against declaring formal independence, the warnings about the island were more detailed and voluminous than in previous defense strategies.

“We must resolutely point out that engaging in Taiwan independence is a road to a dead end,” said Colonel Wu, who was joined by several senior military officials to detail aspects of the new strategy document. “If anyone dares to try to split Taiwan from China, the Chinese Army will certainly not hesitate to fight and resolutely defend the sovereignty, unification and territorial integrity of the country.”

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2019-07-24 06:19:02Z
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South Korea sends overpowering military message to China, Russia, and North Korea - Washington Examiner

Firing more than 350 rounds in warning off a Russian radar aircraft that twice entered its airspace on Tuesday, South Korea signaled its resolve to Russia, China, and indirectly, also North Korea.

The use of force was proportionate to the Russian action. With two separate incursions into South Korea's airspace, the Russian Air Force showed wanton disregard for Seoul's sovereignty and its rights under international law. Even by Russian standards, this action was extreme. But the context matters.

Operating alongside the Chinese air force, the Russians intended to intimidate South Korea and Japan and aggravate the United States. Fortunately, the South Korean military has sent a rather unmistakable warning that this kind of incident should not reoccur.

The U.S. should welcome this courage. The evolving Chinese-Russian alliance intends to undercut the American-led democratic international order. It requires riposte wherever it figuratively or literally (as in this case) crosses the line.

But the Russians were somewhat stupid here. After all, China will likely be unhappy with the excessive Russian aggression. That's because Beijing wants to limit Seoul's increasing association with the broader U.S. security umbrella in Southeast Asia. But Russia's aggression will only encourage Seoul to do the opposite and double down on U.S. support, especially in air and missile defense capabilities: two areas Beijing is desperate to see Seoul avoid.

South Korea has also sent an indirect message to North Korea. Kim Jong Un, even before taking the leadership reins in Pyongyang, has regarded Seoul as a malleable foe to be corralled by threat and dominated by force. South Korean President Moon Jae-in has sometimes reinforced this perception by supporting appeasement in face of Kim's escalation. But Tuesday's action will force the North Koreans to reassess that understanding.

In short: Well done, South Korea.

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2019-07-23 18:03:00Z
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US warship may have downed second Iranian drone in Strait of Hormuz, officials say - Fox News

U.S. officials believe not one but two Iranian drones were downed by a U.S. warship transiting the Strait of Hormuz last week, Fox News confirmed Tuesday.

One official said sailors and marines aboard USS Boxer, a large amphibious assault ship, could see one of the drones go down Thursday. The other drone disappeared from radar and was believed destroyed.

NEW MARINE CORPS ANTI-DRONE SYSTEM USED TO TAKE DOWN IRANIAN DRONE

Both drones were taken out by a new Marine Corps anti-drone jamming device strapped to the deck—without firing a shot.

Iran has previously denied the claim that a U.S. warship destroyed its drone, releasing on Friday what it said was video proof that the drone had returned to base undamaged.

President Trump on Monday refuted Iran’s claims U.S. forces had not destroyed its drone.

“There's a lot of proof -- it's called take a look at it on the ocean floor. Take your scuba gear and go down there," the president said sitting next to Pakistan’s prime minister Imran Khan in the Oval Office.

US-IRAN TENSION: A TIMELINE OF KEY EVENTS

Last week, Trump said the USS Boxer took defensive action after an Iranian drone came within 1,000 yards of the warship and ignored multiple calls to stand down.

Trump blamed Iran for a "provocative and hostile" action and said the U.S. responded in self-defense. But Iran's foreign minister, Mohammad Javad Zarif, told reporters as he arrived for a meeting at the United Nations that "we have no information about losing a drone today."

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The Iranians and Americans have had close encounters in the Strait of Hormuz in the past, and it's not unprecedented for Iran to fly a drone near a U.S. warship.

The incident last week was the latest in a series of events that raised U.S.-Iran tensions since early May when Washington accused Tehran of threatening U.S. forces and interests in Iraq and in the Gulf.

Fox News' Bradford Betz and The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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2019-07-23 18:37:45Z
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