Uneasy Theresa May faces new Parliament
LONDON: As the new Parliament began on Wednesday, Prime Minister Theresa May — humbled and hobbled by the election results that denied her a landslide majority — promised to approach the session with ‘humility and resolve’. Coalition talks with the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) remained unresolved.
It was one of Prime Minister Theresa May’s pet phrases during the recent election campaign to target the opposition Labour, but the ‘coalition of chaos’ ironically returned to haunt her as attempts to form an alliance for her to remain in power floundered.
As the new parliament began on Wednesday, May – humbled by the election results that denied her a landslide majority – promised to approach the session with “humility and resolve”, as coalition talks with the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) remained unresolved. There were signs of friction between the DUP and 10, Downing Street, with the Northern Ireland based party cautioning Conservative interlocutors not to take its support for granted. There is much unease within the ruling party over joining hands with the DUP.
The minority May government presented its Brexit-dominated agenda in the Queen’s Speech (equivalent to President’s Address to the opening of Indian parliament) on the opening day. Its passage in parliament is crucial to the May government’s continuance in office.
The speech promised a new immigration bill, among others, but significantly omitted Conservative plans that proved controversial during the election campaign, and also made no mention of US President Donald Trump’s visit. There has been much protest and opposition in UK to the visit. Queen Elizabeth said: “A bill will be introduced to repeal the European Communities Act and provide certainty for individuals and businesses.”
IN SIGNS OF FRICTION OVER GOVERNMENT FORMATION, THE NORTHERN IRELANDBASED DUP CAUTIONED THEIR CONSERVATIVE INTERLOCUTORS NOT TO TAKE ITS SUPPORT FOR GRANTED.