Theresa May, our new Prime Minister

Theresa May became the UK’s Prime Minister on Wednesday 13 July after being asked by the Queen to form a new Government.

Theresa May, is the MP for Maidenhead, and has been in Parliament since 1997. She became Shadow Education Secretary in 1999; the first female Chairman of the Conservative Party in 2002; and was appointed Home Secretary by David Cameron in 2010.
 

Record of Home Secretary

In her Cabinet role as Home Secretary, she has overseen the government’s ‘counter-extremism strategy’. The strategy has been criticised by Christian groups, church leaders, individuals, and even her own MPs, for the threats posed to free speech and Christian freedoms.

It is unclear exactly where she stands on aspects of the threat posed by radical Islam; she was less robust than Michael Gove in the Birmingham ’Trojan Horse’ affair.
 

Family

In 2000 she voted against the repeal of section 28 – the law which banned councils from promoting homosexual lifestyles – and in 2002 she voted against same-sex adoption. A year later, she voted against lowering the age of consent from 18 to 16 for homosexuals.

However, in common with many other MPs, in recent times she appears to have changed her position in response to pressure to conform to the new political orthodoxy. In 2010 she told BBC's Question Time that she had “genuinely changed” her mind on same-sex adoption, later adding that she was “very proud” of Labour’s record on gay rights.

In 2004 Mrs May voted in favour civil partnerships, and then in 2013 voted in favour of same-sex ‘marriage’. Indeed, Mrs May was praised by Baroness Lynne Featherstone in her book ‘Equal Ever After’, as an “unsung hero” in redefining marriage. She was also key in ensuring that the legislation allowed for religious same-sex ‘marriage’ ceremonies, as well as civil weddings.
 

Other concerns

In February it was claimed that Mrs May 'weighed in' and sided with Nicky Morgan to introduce mandatory LGBT inclusive sex education.

She voted against assisted suicide in 2015.

However questions have been raised over why the Australian assisted suicide enthusiast Philip Nitschke was allowed to enter the UK to conduct a seminar on methods people can use to kill themselves, but did not receive an explanation.

Earlier this year she voted in favour of devolving Sunday trading laws to local councils.

In 2014 the Home Office conducted a review of the treatment of LGBT asylum seekers was carried, but has since been criticised by asylum groups, who claim that conditions have worsened under her tenure.

Last week, Christian Concern's Director of Islamic Affairs, Tim Dieppe, wrote about an open letter which highlighted problems with Theresa May’s inquiry into sharia courts. 
 

Pray

Like many MPs Theresa May’s voting record is at best mixed. Important though these votes are, how she directs and sets the tone for government as Prime Minister will be more important.

We therefore need to heed the words of 1 Timothy 2:1-4, which calls us to pray for all those in positions of authority, and pray for Mrs May as she starts off her Premiership.

"First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth."

Please join us in praying for Theresa May and her new Cabinet. Please pray that they would seek divine wisdom as they work on a variety of policies and strategies. Pray that Christian freedom will be upheld and proposals that impeach on these freedoms in the government’s counter-extremism strategy will be removed.

Related Links: 
David Cameron just blocked compulsory sex education - and the women in his Cabinet are furious (Telegraph) 
Why did the Home Secretary let this man into the UK? 
I've changed my mind on gay adoption, says Theresa May (BBC)