Embattled PM May seeks to rally Conservative lawmakers

LONDON — British Prime Minister Theresa May sought Monday to rally lawmakers from her Conservative Party behind her leadership amid doubts over her ability to remain in power following last week’s disastrous election result.

May, who is trying to wrap up an arrangement with Northern Ireland’s Democratic Unionist Party that would allow her to lead a government with a majority of votes in the House of Commons, moved to demonstrate that she understands the frustration within her own ranks following the election.

Britain’s Press Association, quoting two unnamed sources from the meeting, said May told lawmakers at a closed-door session that she admitted she was the one who “got us into this mess” and vowed that she would be the one who will “get us out of it.”

The meeting with the rank-and-file, some of whom have called for May to step aside sooner rather than later, was brought forward a day.

May has taken the blame for the Conservatives’ showing in last Thursday’s election, in which the party surprisingly lost its majority.

With opinion polls showing the Conservatives with a commanding lead over the opposition Labour Party, May had called an early election in hopes of increasing her majority in Parliament and strengthening her position in negotiations over Britain’s exit from the European Union.

Instead, the election obliterated her political authority.

With a DUP deal still to be confirmed, there was speculation the announcement of the government’s agenda, known as the Queen’s Speech, could be delayed from the planned date next Monday. A delay would behighly unusual.