British PM hit by leadership challenge over Brexit deal

LONDON: British MPs launched a no- confidence motion against Prime Minister Theresa May over her Brexit plan on Wednesday but she vowed to fight off the leadership challenge, warning that changing course could derail the whole process.

Facing her biggest political crisis since assuming office a month after Britons voted in June 2016 to leave the EU, May said a leadership change would “put our country’s future at risk and create uncertainty when we can least afford it”.

“Weeks spent tearing ourselves apart will only create more divisions,” May said in a statement delivered outside her Downing Street office, adding: “I stand ready to finish the job.”

A party confidence vote in her leadership is scheduled for Wednesday evening after dozens of Conservative MPs submitted letters to call for one. That followed her decision to delay a vote on Brexit which she admitted she was certain to lose.

If May loses Wednesday’s vote, a leadership election will be held over the coming weeks and, if a new party leader is elected, he or she automatically becomes Britain’s new prime minister.

The fate of both her unpopular draft withdrawal agreement and her government are now in the balance with the clocking ticking down to Britain’s March 29 departure from the European Union after 46 years.

The confidence vote was triggered after months of plotting by Brexit-supporting Conservative MPs to collect the minimum 48 letters from MPs necessary to trigger a vote.

Several past members of May’s government -- including former foreign minister Boris Johnson -- have had their eyes on the premiership post.

If May survives the motion, no second one could be taken by party members for another year.

Several top members of her cabinet quickly rallied to her support.

“The last thing our country needs right now is a Conservative Party leadership election,” Home Secretary Sajid Javid tweeted.

Javid himself has been mentioned as a possible replacement for May.

The challenge to May “will be seen as self-indulgent and wrong. PM has my full support and is best person to ensure we leave EU on 29 March,” Javid wrote. — AFP