Second May ministry

Second May ministry
2017–present
May (2017)
Date formed	11 June 2017 (2017-06-11)
People and organisations
Monarch	Elizabeth II
Prime Minister	Theresa May
Ministers removed (Death/resignation/dismissal)	See list
Member party	Conservative Party
Status in legislature	Minority with DUP confidence & supply
Opposition cabinet	Corbyn Shadow Cabinet
Opposition party	Labour Party
Opposition leader	Jeremy Corbyn
History
Election(s)	2017 general election
Legislature term(s)	57th UK Parliament
Budget(s)	November 2017 budget
Predecessor	First May ministry

The second May ministry was formed on 11 June 2017 after Queen Elizabeth II invited Theresa May to form a government following the June 2017 snap general election. The election resulted in a hung parliament with the Conservative Party losing its majority in the House of Commons. On 9 June 2017, May announced her intention to form a Conservative minority government, reliant on the confidence and supply of the Democratic Unionist Party; a finalised agreement between the two parties was signed and published on 26 June 2017.^[1][2]

History

The 2017 snap election resulted in a hung parliament, with the Conservative Party holding the most seats in the House of Commons, but without an overall majority. The DUP had suggested it would be able to provide a coalition or confidence and supply arrangement depending on negotiations.^[3] Theresa May, incumbent Conservative prime minister, announced her intention on 9 June 2017 to form a new minority government with support from the DUP.^[4] Both parties have signalled that this support will be in the form of a confidence and supply agreement, rather than a formal coalition. There has been a formal legal challenge, claiming the agreement between the Tories and the DUP contravenes the Good Friday Agreement and the Bribery Act.^[5]

On 10 June, a survey of 1,500 ConservativeHome readers found that almost two-thirds of Conservative Party members wanted Theresa May to resign.^[6] A YouGov poll of 1,720 adults for the Sunday Times had 48% saying Theresa May should resign, with 38% against.^[7] A Survation poll of 1,036 adults online for the Mail on Sunday had 49% of people wanting her resignation, with 38% against.^[7]

On 10 June 2017, 10 Downing Street issued a statement that a Conservative–DUP agreement was reached in principle.^[8] A few hours later, the statement was retracted when it was said that it had been "issued in error" and that talks between the Conservative Party and DUP were still ongoing.^[9] Former Prime Minister, John Major is concerned that a deal between the Conservatives and DUP could endanger the Northern Irish peace process.^[10]

On 11 June 2017, former Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne described May as a "dead woman walking".^[11] David Lidington disagrees.^[12] Senior Labour politicians stated that they plan to challenge the Conservative minority government early and to put forward alternative policies in the reply to the Queen's Speech. Jeremy Corbyn said he believed there is a majority in parliament for many issues on which Labour "is sympathetic", giving as examples the repeal of the Under-occupancy penalty ('bedroom tax'), and maintaining the triple lock on pensions and the winter fuel allowance. In an interview conducted on 11 June, Corbyn stated that he expected another election to be held within a year.^[13][14]

Michael Gove said the minority government will probably reduce austerity and increase spending on public services.^[15] Stephen Bush of the New Statesman also expects less austerity. Bush notes if voters feel there is continued austerity in England, Scotland and Wales while the government spends generously in Northern Ireland to maintain the pact with the DUP then the Conservatives may become more unpopular.^[16] The 1% pay cap on public sector workers is under review according to 10 Downing Street.^[17] and increasing numbers of high ranking Conservatives want to end it.^[18]

On the afternoon of 11 June, Theresa May finalised the composition of her cabinet.^[19] The senior positions of Chancellor, Foreign Secretary and Home Secretary, as well as the Secretary of State for Exiting the EU, had already been confirmed on 9 June with all four incumbents staying in office. The reshuffle saw prominent Brexiteer MPs, such as Boris Johnson and David Davis, retain their roles, but also resulted in the promotion of Damian Green and David Gauke, politicians who had supported the remain side during the EU referendum.^[20] Junior ministerial roles were allocated the following day, with a full list of new ministerial and government appointments confirmed on 12 June.^[21]

On 3 July 2017, polls suggested May's popularity had dropped drastically since the election on 8 June. 60% of voters viewed May less favourable than they did during the election, and 20% more disapproved than approved of May: 31% approved her leadership, while 51% disapproved.^[22] By 7 July, YouGov gave Labour an eight-point lead over the Conservatives (46% to 38%). A New Statesman article maintained a factor in this lead is ONS figures showing household disposable incomes falling faster than at any time since 2011.^[23]

May reshuffled her cabinet on 8–9 January 2018.^[24]

Cabinets

List of ministers

References