May seeks to move on
Brexit supporter Penny Mordaunt replaces scandal-hit aid minister Priti Patel |
Running for election mere months ago, British Prime Minister Theresa May’s slogan was “strong and stable government.”
The phrase sounds cruelly ironic now, with two ministers resigning in a week and several senior members of May’s Cabinet under investigation for alleged sexual misconduct. Even before the latest troubles, May was a beleaguered leader atop a fragile government. But with the ouster of cabinet minister and prominent Brexit supporter Priti Patel over undisclosed meetings with Israeli officials, May was left struggling to stave off open conflict in a cabinet divided over Brexit. May yesterday appointed Penny Mordaunt, a strong Brexit supporter, as the new International Development Secretary to replace Patel.
But May’s team is struggling to make headway in exit talks with the European Union, several ministers are embroiled in a wider sexual harassment scandal and her ability to command a majority in parliament is facing its most serious test. The instability in her top team adds to what is already a difficult situation for May. A snap election in June cost her party its majority in parliament and has sapped her authority at a time when she is trying to heal deep divisions within and negotiate Britain’s departure from the EU.
EU dashes hopes
The European Parliament’s Brexit negotiator doused hopes that talks were nearing a breakthrough, saying “major issues” must still be resolved on safeguarding citizens’ rights. While fresh negotiations between Britain and the European Commission began yesterday, progress in Brussels is vital to help May keep onside nervous businesses who say they urgently need to know what will happen when Britain leaves the bloc.
If she is unable to prove her ability to pass legislation and govern effectively the Conservative party — historically intolerant of weakened leaders — could seek to replace her. That would not automatically trigger a fresh national election, however, with many Conservatives fearful that the Labour Party, led by socialist Jeremy Corbyn, could cast them out of power. Here are the details of the crises that May has built up in British politics.