Theresa May has become Britain’s 54th prime minister, entering Downing Street with a promise to address the country’s deep divisions, ruling not “for the privileged few” but for people who felt they were losing control of their lives.

Mrs May spoke only fleetingly about last month’s Brexit vote as she addressed the nation outside Number 10, but her mission statement was aimed squarely at those voters who saw the referendum as a cry for help.

Within hours of becoming prime minister, Mrs May tackled her first task of appointing a new cabinet by installing Philip Hammond as chancellor. George Osborne resigned, making way for the former foreign secretary who has long harboured a move to the Treasury. Boris Johnson, the former mayor of London who threw his support behind the Brexit campaign, has been appointed UK’s new foreign secretary. Mr Johnson will be replacing Philip Hammond, who has been named chancellor of the exchequer.