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Theresa May tells Cabinet to 'make Brexit work for Britain'

Ms May reiterated that 'Brexit means Brexit' and claimed 'we’re going to make a success of it'

Ashley Cowburn
Political Correspondent
Tuesday 19 July 2016 00:01 BST
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May's first Cabinet meeting

Theresa May is set to tell members of her newly appointed Cabinet that everyone must play their role in making Britain’s exit from the European Union a success.

Despite around two-thirds of MPs publicly backing Remain during the EU referendum campaign, the Prime Minister, speaking ahead of her first Cabinet meeting, said: “It will be the responsibility of everyone sitting around the Cabinet table to make Brexit work for Britain.”

Ms May, who has finished appointing her government ministers, also reiterated that “Brexit means Brexit” and claimed “we’re going to make a success of it”.

Theresa May: Going to make success of Brexit

“And it will also be their duty to deliver success on behalf of everyone in the UK, not just the privileged few. That is why social justice will be at the heart of my government,” she added.

“So we will not allow the country to be defined by Brexit, but instead will build the education, skills and social mobility to allow everyone to prosper from the opportunities of leaving the EU.”

During the Cabinet meeting on Tuesday, Ms May is expected to set out the priorities for the new government. She will afterwards host her first National Security Council session, featuring discussion surrounding the global threats facing the UK and the safety of British nationals overseas.

It comes after Ms May claimed she had “very constructive” talks with Wales’ First Minister, Carwyn Jones, during her visit there yesterday.

She was greeted by Mr Jones on the Senedd steps before heading into his office to discuss post-Brexit Britain and the uncertainty surrounding Tata's steelworks in Port Talbot.

Mrs May said: “The Union is very important to me, and I'm pleased to visit Wales so early in my premiership. I've had a very constructive meeting with the First Minister and we've been talking about a number of issues – including the United Kingdom leaving the EU.

"What I want to see is the best possible deal for the whole of the United Kingdom, and I want the Welsh Government to be involved in the discussions. That's why I am here.“

Later in the week, Ms May is expected to hold her first face-to-face meetings with European leaders as Prime Minister, when she travels to Berlin and Paris.

Brexit is certain to be high on the agenda on Ms May’s first overseas trip as PM and talks with the German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Francois Hollande.

However, European leaders have previously warned there will be no informal negotiations before Article 50 is triggered.

It is usual for incoming premiers to make early visits to establish personal links with key European leaders, but this week's trip will be highly charged by the outcome of the 23 June referendum and the need to shape a new relationship between the UK and its neighbours on the continent.

The PM's government: full list of appointments

Prime Minister, First Lord of the Treasury and Minister for the Civil Service

Rt Hon Theresa May MP

HM Treasury

Chancellor of the Exchequer – Rt Hon Philip Hammond MP

Chief Secretary to the Treasury – Rt Hon David Gauke MP

Financial Secretary – Jane Ellison MP

Economic Secretary – Simon Kirby MP

Commercial Secretary – Lord O’Neill of Gatley

Home Office

Secretary of State for the Home Department – Rt Hon Amber Rudd MP

Minister of State – Brandon Lewis MP

Minister of State – Ben Wallace MP

Minister of State – Robert Goodwill MP

Minister of State – Baroness Williams of Trafford

Parliamentary Under Secretary of State – Sarah Newton MP

Parliamentary Under Secretary of State – Baroness Shields OBE (jointly with the Department for Culture, Media and Sport)

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs – Rt Hon Boris Johnson MP

Minister of State – Rt Hon Sir Alan Duncan MP

Minister of State – Rt Hon Baroness Anelay of St Johns DBE (jointly with the Department for International Development)

Parliamentary Under Secretary of State – Tobias Ellwood MP

Parliamentary Under Secretary of State – Alok Sharma MP

Ministry of Defence

Secretary of State for Defence – Rt Hon Michael Fallon MP

Minister of State – Mike Penning MP

Minister of State – Rt Hon Earl Howe (and Deputy Leader of the House of Lords)

Parliamentary Under Secretary of State – Mark Lancaster TD MP

Parliamentary Under Secretary of State – Harriett Baldwin MP

Ministry of Justice

Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice – Rt Hon Elizabeth Truss MP

Minister of State – Sir Oliver Heald QC MP

Parliamentary Under Secretary of State – Sam Gyimah MP

Parliamentary Under Secretary of State – Phillip Lee MP

Department for Education

Secretary of State for Education, and Minister for Women and Equalities – Rt Hon Justine Greening MP

Minister of State – Jo Johnson MP (jointly with the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy)

Minister of State – Nick Gibb MP

Minister of State – Edward Timpson MP

Minister of State – Rt Hon Robert Halfon MP

Parliamentary Under Secretary of State – Lord Nash

Parliamentary Under Secretary of State – Caroline Dinenage MP

Department for Exiting the European Union

Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union – Rt Hon David Davis MP

Minister of State – Rt Hon David Jones MP

Parliamentary Under Secretary of State – Lord Bridges of Headley MBE

Parliamentary Under Secretary of State – Robin Walker MP

Department for International Trade

Secretary of State for International Trade, and President of the Board of Trade – Rt Hon Liam Fox MP

Minister of State – Lord Price CVO

Minister of State – Rt Hon Greg Hands MP

Parliamentary Under Secretary of State – Mark Garnier MP

Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy

Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy – Rt Hon Greg Clark MP

Minister of State – Jo Johnson MP (jointly with the Department for Education)

Minister of State – Nick Hurd MP

Minister of State – Baroness Neville-Rolfe DBE CMG

Parliamentary Under Secretary of State – Margot James MP

Parliamentary Under Secretary of State – Jesse Norman MP

Department of Health

Secretary of State for Health – Rt Hon Jeremy Hunt MP

Minister of State – Philip Dunne MP

Parliamentary Under Secretary of State – Nicola Blackwood MP

Parliamentary Under Secretary of State – David Mowat MP

Parliamentary Under Secretary of State – Lord Prior of Brampton

Department for Work and Pensions

Secretary of State for Work and Pensions – Rt Hon Damian Green MP

Minister of State – Penny Mordaunt MP

Minister of State – Damian Hinds MP

Minister of State – Lord Freud

Parliamentary Under Secretary of State – Caroline Nokes MP

Parliamentary Under Secretary of State – Richard Harrington MP

Department for Transport

Secretary of State for Transport – Rt Hon Chris Grayling MP

Minister of State – Rt Hon John Hayes MP

Parliamentary Under Secretary of State – Paul Maynard MP

Parliamentary Under Secretary of State – Andrew Jones MP

Parliamentary Under Secretary of State – Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon

Department for Communities and Local Government

Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government – Rt Hon Sajid Javid MP

Minister of State – Gavin Barwell MP

Parliamentary Under Secretary of State – Andrew Percy MP

Parliamentary Under Secretary of State – Marcus Jones MP

Parliamentary Under Secretary of State – Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth (jointly with the Wales Office)

Office of the Leader of the House of Commons

Lord President of the Council, and Leader of the House of Commons – Rt Hon David Lidington MP

Parliamentary Secretary (Deputy Leader of the House of Commons) – Michael Ellis MP (and Assistant Whip (paid))

Office of the Leader of the House of Lords

Lord Privy Seal, and Leader of the House of Lords – Rt Hon Baroness Evans of Bowes Park

Deputy Leader of the House of Lords – Rt Hon Earl Howe (and Minister of State at the Ministry of Defence)

Scotland Office

Secretary of State for Scotland – Rt Hon David Mundell MP

Parliamentary Under Secretary of State – Lord Dunlop (jointly with the Northern Ireland Office)

Wales Office

Secretary of State for Wales – Rt Hon Alun Cairns MP

Parliamentary Under Secretary of State – Guto Bebb MP (and Government Whip (paid))

Parliamentary Under Secretary of State – Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth (jointly with the Department for Communities and Local Government)

Northern Ireland Office

Secretary of State for Northern Ireland – Rt Hon James Brokenshire MP

Parliamentary Under Secretary of State – Kris Hopkins MP

Parliamentary Under Secretary of State – Lord Dunlop (jointly with the Scotland Office)

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs – Rt Hon Andrea Leadsom MP

Minister of State – George Eustice MP

Parliamentary Under Secretary of State – Thérèse Coffey MP

Parliamentary Under Secretary of State – Lord Gardiner of Kimble

Department for International Development

Secretary of State for International Development – Rt Hon Priti Patel MP

Minister of State – Rory Stewart OBE MP

Minister of State – Rt Hon Baroness Anelay of St Johns DBE (jointly with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office)

Parliamentary Under Secretary of State – James Wharton MP

Cabinet Office

Paymaster General, and Minister for the Cabinet Office – Rt Hon Ben Gummer MP

Parliamentary Secretary – Chris Skidmore MP

Department for Culture, Media and Sport

Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport – Rt Hon Karen Bradley MP

Minister of State – Rt Hon Matt Hancock MP

Parliamentary Under Secretary of State – Tracey Crouch MP

Parliamentary Under Secretary of State – Rob Wilson MP

Parliamentary Under Secretary of State – Baroness Shields OBE (jointly with the Home Office)

Parliamentary Under Secretary of State – Lord Ashton of Hyde (and a Lord in Waiting (paid))

Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (and Conservative Party Chair) – Rt Hon Patrick McLoughlin MP

Law Officers

Attorney General – Jeremy Wright MP

Solicitor General – Robert Buckland MP

Advocate General for Scotland – Lord Keen of Elie QC

Whips – House of Commons

Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury (Chief Whip) – Rt Hon Gavin Williamson MP

Treasurer of HM Household (Deputy Chief Whip) – Rt Hon Anne Milton MP

Comptroller of HM Household (Government Whip) – Mel Stride MP

Vice Chamberlain of HM Household (Government Whip) – Julian Smith MP

Junior Lords of the Treasury

Government Whip (Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury) – David Evennett MP

Government Whip (Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury) – Guto Bebb MP (and a Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Wales Office)

Government Whip (Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury) – Stephen Barclay MP

Government Whip (Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury) – Guy Opperman MP

Government Whip (Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury) – Robert Syms MP

Government Whip (Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury) – Andrew Griffiths MP

Assistant Whips

Assistant Government Whip – Jackie Doyle-Price MP

Assistant Government Whip – Graham Stuart MP

Assistant Government Whip – Heather Wheeler MP

Assistant Government Whip – Chris Heaton-Harris MP

Assistant Government Whip – Mark Spencer MP

Assistant Government Whip – Christopher Pincher MP

Assistant Government Whip – Steve Brine MP

Assistant Government Whip – Michael Ellis MP (and a Parliamentary Secretary in the Office of the Leader of the Commons)

Whips – House of Lords

Captain of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen at Arms (Lords Chief Whip) – Rt Hon Lord Taylor of Holbeach CBE

Captain of The Queen’s Bodyguard of the Yeomen of the Guard (Deputy Chief Whip) – Earl of Courtown

Baronesses and Lords in Waiting

Baroness in Waiting – Baroness Chisholm of Owlpen

Baroness in Waiting – Baroness Goldie DL

Lord in Waiting – Lord Ashton of Hyde (and a Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department for Culture, Media and Sport)

Lord in Waiting – Viscount Younger of Leckie

Other appointments

Baroness Chisholm of Owlpen as spokesperson on Cabinet Office business in the House of Lords

Lord Keen of Elie QC as spokesperson on Ministry of Justice business in the House of Lords

Lord Younger of Leckie as spokesperson on Higher Education business in the House of Lords.

George Hollingbery MP as the Prime Minister’s Parliamentary Private Secretary

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