Put up or shut up, anti-May lawmakers told

LONDON: Lawmakers in British Prime Minister Theresa May’s Conservative Party who are trying to oust her as leader have been told to “put up, shut up” by the party’s chief in Scotland.

Others in the party warned that the uncertainty over May was damaging Brexit negotiations with the European Union (EU).

May said on Friday that she would remain as leader after a former Conservative chairman said he had garnered the support of 30 lawmakers who wanted her to quit.

It followed a disastrous speech at the party’s conference and a snap election in June, in which May lost her party’s majority in parliament.

Senior figures have rallied round May, but the open rebellion coincides with Britain’s crucial talks with the EU just 18 months before Britain is due to leave.

EU officials and diplomats have stepped up preparations for a collapse in Brexit negotiations, while one British newspaper reported yesterday that European negotiators were increasing talks with the opposition Labour Party amid concerns May’s government would flounder.

Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson, a possible successor should May be forced out, told the BBC that May’s critics should “put up, shut up and get off the stage”.

“I would tell my party to get its house in order, get together, knuckle down and make sure that our first commitment, last commitment and only commitment is to the country,” she said.

Her message came after former party chairman Grant Shapps toured media studios calling for a leadership election.

He said 30 Conservative lawmakers backed his view, well short of the 48 needed to trigger a contest.

Commentators said a lack of an obvious replacement and deep divisions in the party over the direction of Brexit meant the rebellion had lost momentum despite disquiet over May’s performance as leader.

One Conservative lawmaker, Nigel Evans, said the “botched plot” appeared to have fizzled out within a day, but that it would play into the hands of EU’s chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier and EU Commission head JeanClaude Juncker.

“The sniping from people like Shapps is ... going to be used by people like Barnier and Juncker to say ‘There are divisions within the government, maybe we can offer them a worse deal or drag things out’,” Evans told BBC TV.

“He’s done us absolutely no favours whatsoever.” —