UK’s Theresa May: Quiet, steely vicar’s daughter on WTOP| LONDON (AP) — She is a quiet, determined vicar’s daughter who rose to the heights of British political power by outmaneuvering better known, more outspoken men. The favorites in a 2016 Conservative Party leadership competiton were Boris…
LONDON (AP) — She is a quiet, determined vicar’s daughter who rose to the heights of British political power by outmaneuvering better known, more outspoken men.
The favorites in a 2016 Conservative Party leadership competiton were Boris Johnson and Michael Gove. The winner was Theresa May, who became prime minister on a difficult mission to deliver Brexit.
May, 62, became prime minister after Britain’s shock June 2016 vote to leave the EU toppled Prime Minister David Cameron, who had called the referendum and then argued for remaining in the bloc in a bid to squelch a long-running party squabble. And she has spent her entire premiership trying to deliver on the voters’ decision.
Before the referendum, May had backed remaining in the EU bloc, but she has become one of the staunchest advocates of Brexit. “Brexit means Brexit” became her mantra — a meaningless one, according to her detractors.
For a time, May was able to unite the warring factions of her party, which for decades has been divided over policy toward Europe.
