Theresa May opens first cabinet meeting as PM with pledge not to be solely defined by Brexit

Theresa May has said she does not want her new government to be solely defined by Brexit as she held her first cabinet meeting as prime minister.

Mrs May maintained that social reform would also be a hallmark of her administration.

"When I launched my leadership campaign, I said that politics is not a game," she said.

"The decisions that we take around this table affect people's day-to-day lives and we must do the right thing, take the right decisions for the future of this country. We have the challenge of Brexit, and Brexit does mean Brexit, and we're going to make a success of it."

At the end of the meeting, May told her colleagues: "Get to it and get on with the job."

Ministers banged on the table after the prime minister made her opening remarks at the meeting, which is being used to set out the government's priorities.

Mrs May became Britain's second female prime minister when she succeeded David Cameron last week.

She quickly formed her top-team, appointing Boris Johnson as foreign secretary, Philip Hammond as chancellor and Amber Rudd in her old job as home secretary.