May battles to stay in power
Tory leader accused of being ‘in denial’ Deal sought with DUP to hang on in office
THERESA MAY was accused of being in denial over the General Election result as she set out plans to cling onto power and lead the country through Brexit propped up by the Democratic Unionist Party.
Mrs May signalled her intention to try and avoid a second General Election this year and begin the Brexit talks despite the Conservatives losing their Commons majority.
The final election results confirmed overnight forecasts that Mrs May’s decision to call a snap poll in anticipation of a significant victory had resulted in humiliating failure.
Having gone into the election with high hopes of making gains across Yorkshire, the Conservatives lost Keighley and Colne Valley and saw majorities shrink in seats they won on the road to Government in 2010 and had considered safe this time.
Initial analysis of the results suggested that the Conservatives had not secured the support of as many previous Ukip voters as expected and that unexpectedly large numbers of younger people had thrown their support behind Labour.
The Conservatives’ failure to secure a majority raised the prospect of the Brexit talks being delayed and the possibility of a further election later in the year.
But following a meeting with the Queen, Mrs May returned to Downing Street where she set out plans for a Government for the next five years with support from “our friends and allies in the Democratic Unionist Party”.
The Prime Minister argued winning the most votes and seats meant only the Conservatives had the “legitimacy” to govern.
“This Government will guide the country through the crucial Brexit talks that begin in just 10 days and deliver on the will of the British people by taking the United Kingdom out of the European Union,” she said.
Mrs May later expressed sorrow for defeated Conservative MPs, admitting they “didn’t deserve to lose their seats”.
Despite her apparent determination to press on, doubts were already emerging in her own ranks last night over how long Mrs May could stay in post.
Asked if Mrs May would still be Prime Minister at the end of the year, Brexit Minister David Jones said: “That’s impossible for me to say, and is probably impossible for anyone else to say too.”
Her approach also angered opponents hoping her election failure would lead to a change of tack on Brexit.
Liberal Democrat leader Tim Farron, who saw his party gain seats overall but lose both its Yorkshire MPs, said: “Theresa May is in complete denial about what has happened in this election.
“Her mandate to deliver this divisive and hard Brexit is dead.”
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn called on Mrs May to stand aside so his party could form a minority government after it gained 29 seats including four in Yorkshire.
“I think it’s pretty clear who won this election,” he said.