Theresa May: Brexit can "change Britain for the better"

Media captionCentre-ground politicians "must show they can respond to people"s concerns" Theresa May has criticised those who believe a so-called “hard Brexit” is inevitable after the UK leaves the EU.
The prime minister said she wanted the UK to “operate within” the single market as part of a new relationship.
Speaking in London, she vowed to build a “shared society” in which wealth and opportunity were not the preserve of an elite, and injustices were tackled.
She said that Brexit provided an “opportunity to fundamentally change Britain for the better”.
Outlining her social reform agenda in her most significant policy speech for three months, Mrs May announced steps to improve mental health provision in the UK and transform attitudes to people suffering from mental health conditions.
Mental health care overhaul pledged by PM Politics and jobs "swell youth anxiety" Pound falls after Sunday"s Brexit comments She announced extra training for teachers, mor..

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Theresa May warns about rise of "fringe" politics

Prime Minister Theresa May warns about the rise of “fringe” parties if “mainstream” politics fails.

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Mental health care overhaul pledged by Theresa May

Image copyright iStock Plans to tackle the “hidden injustice” and stigma of mental illness have been revealed by Theresa May.
Extra training for teachers, an extra £15m for community care, and online self-checks were among measures announced by the PM on Monday.
Mental health experts said more funding was needed to improve services.
Mrs May"s speech comes as she outlined her plans to use the state to create a “shared society”.
She promised to “transform” attitudes to mental health problems as part of an event at the Charity Commission.
Young women "highest mental health risk" One in four adults "has mental illness" Politics and jobs "swell youth anxiety" The government says that, at any time, one in four people has a mental disorder, with an annual cost of £105bn, and that young people are affected disproportionately.
In the speech, Mrs May announced:
Every secondary school to be offered mental health first aid training Trials on strengthening link..

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Theresa May promises mental health care overhaul

Image copyright Reuters Theresa May is pledging to help schools and companies in England deal with the “hidden injustice” of mental illness.
In a speech, the prime minister will announce extra training for teachers, more online self-checking for those with concerns and a review of services for children and teenagers.
She will promise to “transform” attitudes to mental health problems.
Mrs May"s speech comes as she outlines her plans to use the state to create a “shared society”.
Young women "highest mental health risk" One in four adults "has mental illness" Politics and jobs "swell youth anxiety" The government says one in four people has a mental disorder at any time, with an annual cost of £105bn, and that young people are affected disproportionately.
During her speech, Mrs May will announce several measures:
Every secondary school to be offered mental health first aid training Trials on strengthening links between schools and NHS specialist sta..

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Theresa May: "We will seek Brexit trade deal and immigration control"

Theresa May has told Sky News the government"s priority would be to get the “best possible” Brexit deal.

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Theresa May: UK cannot keep "bits" of EU membership

The UK cannot expect to hold on to “bits” of its membership after leaving the EU, Theresa May says.

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NHS not in "humanitarian crisis", says Theresa May

Image copyright PA Image caption The PM said the government was looking for a “long-term solution” to the issues in the NHS Theresa May has rejected claims from the Red Cross"s that there is a “humanitarian crisis” in the NHS.
The prime minister acknowledged there were “huge pressures” on the health service and said No 10 had provided the funding requested.
Mrs May told Sky News" Sophy Ridge on Sunday programme that funding was “now at record levels for the NHS”.
Labour has called on the PM to appear at the Commons on Monday to discuss the “crisis” in social care and hospitals.
"Ducked by government"Mrs May said the health service was facing problems with an ageing population and that was why it was important a plan was put in place.
She told Sky News: “We have taken some immediate steps in relation to that issue but we are also looking to ensure best practice in the NHS and looking for a long-term solution.”
She said it was a problem that had been “ducked by gover..

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Theresa May: Government not muddled over Brexit

Prime Minister Theresa May has said the government"s thinking on Brexit “isn"t muddled at all”.
Her comments on Sky News come after the UK"s former ambassador to the EU, Sir Ivan Rogers, criticised ministers" approach to negotiations.
Brexit talks with the EU are expected to begin as early as April.
Mrs May said the government"s priority was to get the “best possible deal in terms of our trading relationship with the European Union”.

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Trump "looks forward" to meeting Theresa May

Image copyright PA Image caption Mr Trump referred to Britain as "a long time US ally" in a tweet Donald Trump has confirmed he will hold his first meeting with Theresa May in the spring, saying he was “very much” looking forward to it.
The US President-elect tweeted that the Prime Minister would head to Washington to meet him after his inauguration.
He referred to Britain as “a long time US ally” and as “very special”.
The introduction was organised after meetings with the PM"s closest advisers over Christmas.
A date for the meeting has not yet been confirmed, but is expected to come within weeks of Mr Trump"s inauguration on 20 January.
The tweet was sent just after 02:00 GMT (21:00 in New York).
The PM and President-elect are understood to have spoken twice since his election victory in November and Mrs May"s joint chiefs of staff, Nick Timothy and Fiona Hill, travelled to the US in December to meet with Mr Trump"s team.
Special relationship?The fi..

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Theresa May vows to correct "burning injustices"

Image copyright PA Prime Minister Theresa May has promised to introduce wide-ranging social reforms to correct what she calls the “burning injustices” in modern society.
Writing in the Sunday Telegraph, she said the UK voted for Brexit to change the way the country works and said she wanted a “shared society”.
She said the government has a duty to intervene, including in markets that are not giving consumers the best deal.
Her comments come ahead of a Monday speech on social reform.
On becoming prime minister last summer, Mrs May pledged to lead a “one nation” government working for all and not the “privileged few”.
"Injustice and unfairness"In the newspaper, Mrs May writes that a “shared society” means “a society that doesn"t just value our individual rights but focuses rather more on the responsibilities we have to one another… with a commitment to fairness at its heart”.
“It goes to the heart of my belief that there is more to life than individualism and self-inter..

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Theresa May to visit Donald Trump "in the spring"

Image copyright PA Theresa May is to visit US President-elect Donald Trump in the spring, Downing Street has said.
In December the PM"s joint chiefs of staff, Nick Timothy and Fiona Hill, travelled to the US to build links with the incoming president"s team.
A source said Mrs May “looks forward to visiting the new president in the spring”.
The meeting is expected to take place at the White House and could be as early as next month, it is understood.
The December trip by Mrs May"s closest aides was part of efforts to build a relationship with Mr Trump ahead of his inauguration on 20 January.
The president-elect first invited the prime minister to visit in a phone call shortly after his election victory in November.
It had been expected that she would visit Washington in the early months of 2017.
"Almost impossible"Transport Secretary Chris Grayling told Sky News that there was nothing out of the ordinary about what was happening.
“You would expect a meeting be..

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Theresa May calls for unity in new year message

The prime minister uses her new year message to call for unity after a “divisive” 2016.

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Theresa May new year message: EU referendum "laid bare divisions"

Image copyright Downing Street This year"s EU referendum “laid bare some further divisions in our country”, Theresa May has said.
In her first new year message as prime minister, Mrs May called for unity following June"s “divisive” vote, ahead of negotiations on the UK"s exit from the EU.
She said: “If 2016 was the year you voted for that change, this is the year we start to make it happen.”
Mrs May also quoted MP Jo Cox, who was killed a week before the EU referendum.
The prime minister said in December she would set out her proposals for a “truly global Britain” in a speech on Brexit in the new year.
She has pledged to trigger Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty, getting leaving talks with the EU under way, by the end of March.
These can take up to two years, unless an agreement is reached to prolong the process.
"Golden opportunity"In her new year message, Mrs May said: “I know that the referendum last June was divisive at times.
“I know, of course, that not ev..

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Brexit: Theresa May urged to rule out interim deal

Image copyright PA Image caption The UK must have the flexibility to negotiate its own trade arrangements, Brexit campaigners argue Theresa May has been urged to rule out a transitional Brexit deal and ensure the UK"s full exit from the EU within two years of negotiations beginning.
Campaign group Leave Means Leave said a “clean, swift” exit should be among the PM"s red lines for upcoming talks.
It also said the UK must withdraw from the single market, customs union and common farming and fisheries policies.
On Thursday, a former top EU lawyer warned of a “catastrophe” for the UK if no interim trade accord was struck.
Jean-Claude Piris, head of the EU Council"s legal service from 1988 to 2010, said there was no way the UK could negotiate a new free trade deal with the rest of the EU in the two years set aside for determining the UK"s exit – warning it would take at least five years and probably more.
"Walk away"He told the Financial Times that the UK must..

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Who"s Who: Theresa May"s cabinet

Theresa May is forming her new government after becoming Conservative prime minister. She is continuing to announce her full cabinet – but here"s what we know so far. The list will be updated as new appointments are made.
Prime Minister – Theresa MayCampaigned to Remain in the European Union
Image copyright PA The former home secretary, 59, becomes the UK"s second female prime minister in the wake of David Cameron"s resignation after the EU referendum. She had previously served in the Home Office for more than six years.
Theresa May: Full profile
Image caption Theresa May"s new cabinet includes several new faces – many of who campaigned to leave the EU How does May"s cabinet compare to Cameron"s?
New to the cabinetForeign Secretary – Boris JohnsonCampaigned to Leave the EU
Image copyright EPA Boris Johnson succeeds Philip Hammond at the Foreign Office. The former London mayor headed the campaign for the UK to leave the European Union. He did not pre..

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Theresa May"s roses need a "Rexit" - Gardeners" Question Time

Eric Robson reads a question from Prime Minister Theresa May to the Gardeners" Question Time panellists Christine Walkden, Matthew Wilson and Pippa Greenwood.

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Don"t be cowed by terrorists, urges Theresa May

Image copyright Reuters The Prime Minister has said people should go about their business as usual and not be “cowed by terrorists” after the Christmas market attack in Germany.
Theresa May told the London Evening Standard it was important to “send a clear message that people should “carry on with our lives as usual”.
She added that the police and security services were “unsung heroes”.
Twelve people were killed on Monday when a truck was driven into a crowd at the Breitscheidplatz market in Berlin.
So-called Islamic State has said one of its militants carried out the attack but has offered no evidence.
Berlin market reopens after attack Berlin truck attack suspect: What do we know? Can police protect Christmas crowds? The market has now reopened and police are searching for a Tunisian suspect, named as Anis Amri.
Mrs May told the Standard: “Of course our thoughts are with those who have been affected by the terrible attack that took place in Berlin, but Londoners should go about the..

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Theresa May pledges another £20m for Syria

Image Caption: Syrians leaving a rebel-held area of Aleppo Theresa May has said the UK will provide another £20m of aid for Syria, as she condemned Bashar al Assad and his Russian and Iranian backers.
The Prime Minister said the Syrian government must let the United Nations ensure the safe evacuation of civilians from Aleppo following the battle for the cit..

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Brexit: Theresa May wants early deal on Britons in EU

Image copyright Reuters Image caption Theresa May shares a joke with German Chancellor Angela Merkel and European Parliament President Martin Schulz Theresa May has told EU leaders that she wants an early deal on what Brexit means for the status of Britons in Europe and EU citizens in the UK.
The prime minister"s comments came as she updated fellow leaders on the UK"s plans for leaving the European Union.
There has been concern in other countries about the status of their nationals in the UK after Brexit.
Meanwhile, EU leaders said negotiations over the UK"s exit would be approached in “a spirit of trust and unity”.
Mrs May attended a European Council summit meeting in Brussels on Thursday, but then left without answering any questions on the UK"s break with the EU.
However, Irish PM Enda Kenny revealed what Mrs May had told them, saying: “She would like to have the question of UK citizens living in Europe and European citizens living in the UK dealt with in the ea..

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Who"s Who: Theresa May"s cabinet

Theresa May is forming her new government after becoming Conservative prime minister. She is continuing to announce her full cabinet – but here"s what we know so far. The list will be updated as new appointments are made.
Prime Minister – Theresa MayCampaigned to Remain in the European Union
Image copyright PA The former home secretary, 59, becomes the UK"s second female prime minister in the wake of David Cameron"s resignation after the EU referendum. She had previously served in the Home Office for more than six years.
Theresa May: Full profile
Image caption Theresa May"s new cabinet includes several new faces – many of who campaigned to leave the EU How does May"s cabinet compare to Cameron"s?
New to the cabinetForeign Secretary – Boris JohnsonCampaigned to Leave the EU
Image copyright EPA Boris Johnson succeeds Philip Hammond at the Foreign Office. The former London mayor headed the campaign for the UK to leave the European Union. He did not pre..

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