British lawmakers praised, condemned and verbally jostled with Theresa May as she hosted her final prime minister’s questions on Wednesday before she handed power to her successor, Boris Johnson.
“I pay tribute to her sense of public duty,’’ opposition Labour leader, Jeremy Corbyn, told parliament while repeating his call for a general election.
Corbyn said he hoped May, who will remain a member of parliament, will “oppose the reckless plans of her successor,’’ apparently referring to Johnson’s vow to withdraw Britain from the EU by Oct. 31, with or without a deal.
Former foreign secretary Johnson is set to lead Britain from late Wednesday afternoon when May hands over power after resigning over her failure to persuade lawmakers to back her Brexit deal.
The ruling Conservatives on Tuesday said that its members had chosen Johnson in a run-off ballot between him and Foreign Secretary, Jeremy Hunt, to lead the party and the country.
May agreed to step down in May after failing to win parliamentary approval for the Brexit deal she agreed with Brussels.
She told parliament on Wednesday that she had “worked tirelessly to get a good deal for the UK,’’ leaving the chamber to applause from Conservatives and some opposition lawmakers.
May is expected to make a final speech outside 10 Downing Street, the prime minister’s official residence in London, before visiting Queen Elizabeth II to inform her formally of her resignation later Wednesday.
Johnson will then have his own audience with the queen before travelling back to speak outside Downing Street.
He is expected to begin announcing ministers for his new cabinet late Wednesday or Thursday.
Johnson will also make a statement to parliament on his Brexit plans on Thursday, according to unconfirmed reports in British media.
In his acceptance speech on Tuesday, Johnson said he wants to unite Britain and “get Brexit done” by the delayed EU exit date of Oct. 31, with or without a deal.
“We’re going to get Brexit done … in a new spirit of can-do,’’ he said in a prepared victory speech.
“And like some slumbering giant, we are going to rise and ping off the guy ropes of self-doubt and negativity, ”NAN.
