Top 7 challenges for the new British Prime Minister

(Baonghean.vn) - Mrs. Theresa May, former British Home Secretary, is about to officially hold the key to house number 10 Downing Street.

Mrs. Theresa May. Photo: BBC.

Although becoming a female Prime Minister seems quite easy for her, the upcoming challenges are extremely heavy when her new government is responsible for conducting "divorce" procedures with the European Union and bringing the "foggy island" to a new page in history.

Less than three weeks after the British people's shocking decision in the referendum, Home Secretary Theresa May will officially succeed David Cameron, becoming the second female Prime Minister in British history.

Mrs. May will face a "mountain" of work when she takes power, from negotiating with the EU on the terms of her departure, restoring the economy, to "healing the rift" within the ruling Conservative Party as well as uniting the country after leaving the "common roof" of Europe.

Here are the tough tasks the new British Prime Minister will have to tackle as soon as he takes office:

Formation of government

Mrs May's first task is to form a new cabinet, which will include a Brexit minister.

Mrs May will bring more women into her cabinet to promote gender balance. Key cabinet members will include experienced figures such as Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond and some members of the “Brexit” campaign such as the leader of the House of Commons Chris Grayling.

Preparing documents for “divorce” with the EU

Mrs May has insisted that “Brexit is Brexit” and has said that triggering Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty would not happen until the end of the year at the earliest. However, that was before the Conservative leadership race, which is expected to last until September.

The race was shortened because Mrs May's only rival withdrew, and handed her the keys to 10 Downing Street two months early, so the activation of the "divorce" procedures with the EU certainly cannot be delayed.

EU leaders have urged the new British government to push ahead with the process of leaving the EU, stressing that the bloc will only discuss a new relationship with London once it formally files for divorce.

Analysts say the new British prime minister will come under increasing pressure next August, when EU leaders meet in Brussels to discuss Brexit.

Compromise on trade and immigration

Mrs May has insisted that Brexit will end free movement of EU workers into and out of the UK, but she has pledged to pursue “the best deal for the British people” with the EU.

Mrs May's challenge is to negotiate a deal that secures Britain's trade with Europe while also cutting the massive influx of migrants that was at the heart of the referendum debate.

Protect the economy

With the pound plunging following the Brexit decision, the Bank of England (BoE) last week warned of growing concerns about the post-Brexit economy.

Mrs May's task is to convince investors that Britain's exit from the EU will be on a safe path, with the impact on trade, jobs and the cost of living minimised.

Conservative Party Unity

Mrs. May had to "inherit" deep divisions within the ruling Conservative Party, with one side being pro-EU supporters like her, and the other side being dissenting voices such as former London Mayor Boris Johnson, Justice Secretary Michael Gove and Energy Minister Andrea Leadsom.

National unity

Mrs May also faces the challenge of a divided Britain from within, with Scotland threatening to hold a referendum on leaving the UK. For her, the task of uniting and unifying the UK is “a top priority”.

Nuclear weapons

One of the first tests of Theresa May’s leadership will come on 18 July, when MPs vote on the government’s proposal to renew the Trident nuclear weapons system. Britain’s main nuclear arsenal, the Trident missile, is in a “clinically dead” state following the country’s vote to leave the EU.

Lan Ha

(According to AFP)