May survives bid to oust her as PM

THERESA MAY has survived an attempt to oust her as Prime Minister, as MPs rejected Jeremy Corbyn’s motion of no confidence in the Government by a margin of 325 to 306.

The Prime Minister’s 19-vote victory came less than 24 hours after the crushing defeat of her EU Withdrawal Agreement in the House of Commons, and clears the way for her to start cross-party talks on a Brexit Plan B.

Conservative rebels and members of the Democratic Unionist Party who consigned the PM to the worst defeat in parliamentary history on Tuesday rallied behind her to see off the threat of a general election.

Welcoming the result, Mrs May told the Commons: “I am pleased that this House has expressed its confidence in the Government. I do not take this responsibility lightly and my Government will continue its work to increase our prosperity, guarantee our security and to strengthen our union.

“And yes, we will also continue to work to deliver on the solemn promise we made to the people of this country to deliver on the result of the referendum and leave the European Union.”

She invited leaders of opposition parties to take part in individual meetings with her on the way forward for Brexit.

Mrs May pledged to approach the talks “in a constructive spirit” and urged other parties to do the same, adding: “We must find solutions that are negotiable and command sufficient support in this House.”

She said: “The House has put its confidence in this Government.

“I stand ready to work with any member of this House to deliver on Brexit and ensure that this House retains the confidence of the British people.”

But Mr Corbyn responded: “Before there can be any positive discussions about the way forward, the Government must remove clearly once and for all the prospect of the catastrophe of a no-deal Brexit from the EU and all the chaos that would come as a result of that.”

Mrs May is now due to set out her alternative plan for EU withdrawal to MPs on January 21.

But she risks losing control of the Brexit process, as she must table a motion which can be amended by MPs.

They are expected to use the opportunity to secure Commons support for a range of possible outcomes, from ruling out a nodeal departure or opting for Norway-style membership of the single market to a second referendum.

MPs on both the Remain and the Leave wings of the party warned she needed to make major changes to the deal if she is to get it through the Commons.

Mrs May confirmed she wanted to meet MPs from across Parliament before returning to the Commons on Monday to make a fresh statement on the way forward on Brexit.

She held talks with DUP leader Arlene Foster, who later described the discussions as “useful”.