May gets down to work amid Brexit pressure

British Prime Minister Theresa May completed a major overhaul of the government yesterday, promoting leading Brexit campaigners and stunning observers by picking gaffe-prone Boris Johnson as her top diplomat.

After six years as interior minister under David Cameron, May took office on Wednesday signalling her intention to start with a clean slate -- before ruthlessly ejecting some of her former colleagues.

Finance minister George Osborne was replaced by foreign minister Philip Hammond, while two eurosceptics were brought in to take control of Britain's exit from the European Union.

Justice secretary Michael Gove, a leading Brexit supporter and her rival in the Tory leadership race, was sent packing along with Osborne, and the education and culture ministers.

However she kept defence minister Michael Fallon and health minister Jeremy Hunt in their posts.

EU leaders have lined up to congratulate May, whose appointment brings some stability three tumultuous weeks after the June 23 referendum, but urged her to move quickly in implementing the vote to leave.

But European Parliament chief Martin Schulz yesterday took aim at Theresa May's new cabinet, saying it continued a "dangerously vicious cycle" that will hurt Britain and Europe.

Schulz said the cabinet, like the one run by May's predecessor David Cameron, is based on solving internal splits in the ruling centre-right Conservative Party rather than promoting the national interest.

The result has sparked turmoil on financial markets and sent shockwaves throughout British and European politics, including forcing Cameron to step down.

May had personally campaigned to stay in the EU but confirmed that "Brexit means Brexit" by appointing two arch eurosceptics to her cabinet.

David Davis has been put in charge of exit negotiations as new Brexit minister, while Liam Fox has responsibility for negotiating new trade agreements outside the bloc.

EU leaders, still reeling from Britain's decision to become the first country to leave the bloc in its 60-year history, pressed May for a quick divorce.

May's first calls after taking over late Wednesday were to Europe's top two powerbrokers, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Francois Hollande.

May's spokesman said she had emphasised in her calls, which also included Irish premier Enda Kenny, that she would implement the referendum decision.

But she "explained that we would need some time to prepare for these negotiations".