Defiant UK PM May puts up a brave front against leadership challenge
BREXIT TURMOIL Contenders include former foreign secretary Boris Johnson, home secretary Sajid Javid
As companies and markets watched nervously, a defiant Prime Minister Theresa May said she would contest a leadership challenge on Wednesday “with everything I have got” after the number of rebel Conservative MPs reached the threshold of 48.
Serious questions were raised about the future of the Brexit process, now nearing the deadline of March 29, 2019, while the British Chamber of Commerce said companies were watching the developments in Westminster with “utter dismay”.
May, however, put up a confident display at the Prime Minister’s Questions in the House of Commons, taking on her critics. Over 150 party MPs went public with their support for her. She needs the support of more than 50% of the 315 Conservative MPs, or at least 158, to stay in office. Voting on the leadership contest is scheduled for 6 pm UK time and the results will be declared after voting ends at 8 pm. If she loses, she will resign as the prime minister. The first ballot in a possible leadership contest will be on December 18. Candidates could be whittled down to the final two by December 20. Once there are two candidates, it’s meant to go to party members in a postal ballot.
A Downing Street spokesman said: “(May) is fighting for every vote. We have seen support from across the parliamentary party this morning but there is a lot more to do this afternoon. This vote isn’t about who leads the party into the next election, it is about whether it makes sense to change leader at this point in the Brexit process.
“She has said on a number of occasions - in fact she said immediately after the last election in 2017 - that she would serve as long as her colleagues want her to. She believes it is her duty to serve as long as the party wants her to.”
Speaking outside 10 Downing Street after the leadership challenge was triggered, May insisted she would stay the course by contesting the leadership challenge: “I will contest that vote with everything that I have got.” Removing her as prime minister will not change anything except delay or halt Brexit, she said.
The development follows deferring of the crucial vote in Parliament on the controversial withdrawal agreement, which was scheduled for Tuesday. Conservative MPs and others condemned her handling of the Brexit process during debates in the House of Commons.
Prospective leadership contenders are former foreign secretary Boris Johnson, former Brexit secretary Dominic Raab, home secretary Sajid Javid, and international development secretary Penny Mordaunt.
The most senior Brexiteer in May’s government said on Wednesday he was sure that she would win the vote of confidence. “I am absolutely sure the prime minister will win,” Michael Gove said.
LONDON: STRASBOURG:A TWISTS AND TURNS OF MAY’S BREXIT JOURNEY
Theresa May is confirmed as the prime minister after David Cameron quits in the wake of British voters choosing to leave the EU in a national referendum
May triggers Article 50, which begins the Brexit process
The PM calls a snap election, saying Britain needs stable leadership to deal with Brexit
In the election, May’s Conservative Party loses majority in Parliament. She makes a deal with Northern Ireland’s Democratic Unionist Party to stay in power
Rebel Tory MPs side with the Opposition, forcing May to guarantee a Parliament vote on the Brexit deal
The PM says ‘no deal’ is better than a bad deal with the EU
May meets her cabinet to reach an agreement on the content of the Brexit legislation. Cabinet ministers are warned of the risk of being sacked if they can’t support the government
May is humiliated during the Salzburg Summit in Austria. EU leaders say her plan is unworkable
May’s Brexit plan is criticised by her own MPs in Parliament
May cancels the vote in the Parliament scheduled for December 11
Rebel Tory lawmakers trigger a confidence vote on her leadership.