Senior figures in the construction industry have given the thumbs up to Theresa May becoming the new prime minister on Wednesday following another few turbulent days during which her rival Andrea Leadsom pulled out of the leadership race.
The swift resolution to the uncertainty in the wake of the referendum has been welcomed by industry, though May’s stance on issues that will impact on construction and infrastructure are largely unknown.
May, 59, has been home secretary since 2010 and was also minister of women and equalities from 2010 to 2012. She held shadow cabinet positions and has represented the Maidenhead constituency since it was created in 1997. She was also the first female chairman of the Conservative Party, holding the position in 2002 and 2003.
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Alasdair Reisner, chief executive of the Civil Engineering Contractors Association, said: “A priority for UK industry is a stable government and economy. As such, Theresa May’s likely appointment as prime minister is welcome as it provides certainty instead of indecision during a long leadership election.
“It is now time for the government to get back to the day job of running the country, investing in the growth that will protect the economy from the headwinds that have risen since the referendum. There are major decisions to be made now on large infrastructure projects – it is time for our new prime minister to show that the UK is open for business again.”
Simon Girling, national chair of the National Federation of Builders, also welcomed the certainty May and a new prime minster would bring.
“The sooner we have some semblance of stability the better,” he said. “That way we can get back to focusing on building the homes our country needs, developing home-grown talent and doing this while securing the best value for taxpayers’ money.”
But what do we know about the new prime minister?
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A priority for UK industry is a stable government and economy. As such, Theresa May’s likely appointment as prime minister is welcome as it provides certainty instead of indecision during a long leadership election.
– Alasdair Reisner, chief executive, Civil Engineering Contractors Association
