Britain’s Theresa May gets keys to 10 Downing Street
Theresa May, who served as British home secretary under the government of David Cameron and was appointed head of the Conservative Party, assumes the post of prime minister on Wednesday. She is expected to announce a series of appointments including the foreign secretary, home secretary and finance secretary in the coming days. During her term as home secretary she took a firm stance against illegal immigration to Britain and against the activities of radical Islamic movements. She banned Raed Salah, leader of the northern branch of the Islamic Movement in Israel, from Britain. The incoming prime minister is known for her support of Israel, including during Israel's 2014 Operation Protective Edge against Hamas in Gaza. During her first day on the job she will travel to Buckingham Palace where she will be formally invited by Queen Elizabeth II to form a government. She is to give her first speech as prime minister at 10 Downing Street, and then go alone into her new office and write "The letter of last resort" that informs British nuclear submarines how to operate if the country is threatened with destruction. Afterwards she will be briefed by the British military's chief of staff, Nicholas Houghton, and announce the composition of her government, with women expected to be given key roles. During the afternoon and the evening she is expected to receive dozens of congratulatory phone calls from world leaders.