Bitesized Blighty: June 7, 2019
- Theresa passes the baton
Theresa May has officially stepped down as the leader of the Conservative Party, but will remain as prime minister until her successor is chosen. She has handed in her private resignation letter to the backbench 1922 Committee, two weeks after announcing her intention to leave. Eleven Conservative MPs are vying to replace her as party leader and, ultimately, Prime Minister. The winner of the contest is expected to be announced in the week of 22 July. Mrs May, who has said it was a matter of deep regret that she had been unable to deliver Brexit, remains acting party leader during the leadership election process.
- Trump visit to the UK
The US president’s trip to the UK was always going to be eventful. On Monday, Donald Trump reignited his political feud with Mayor of London Sadiq Khan, calling him a "stone cold loser who should focus on crime in London". Moments before Air Force One landed at Stansted, Mr Trump posted two tweets criticising the mayor of London. It follows Mr Khan's attack on Mr Trump ahead of his three-day state visit to the UK. A spokesman for Mr Khan said the "childish insults should be beneath the president of the United States". In the past Mr Trump has challenged Mr Khan to an IQ test and been critical of his response to the London Bridge attack in 2017.
- D-Day: 75 years on
Over the last three days, Europe commemorated 75 years since the allied invasion of Normandy. Hundreds of veterans gathered in the UK and France to honour the sacrifice of those who died in the D-Day landings. World leaders attended ceremonies honouring Allied forces who fought in the largest combined land, air and naval operation in history. Wreaths were laid, a minute's silence was held and veterans linked arms and sang, before watching an RAF flypast. Theresa May and Emmanuel Macron thanked veterans who took part in June 1944. President Donald Trump called former US soldiers "the pride of the nation".