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British PM Theresa May to face leadership challenge over Brexit plan

Hindustan Times, London | By
Dec 12, 2018 11:12 PM IST

Theresa May, who has been prime minister since shortly after the UK voted to leave the European Union in 2016, has faced criticism in her party for the Brexit plan she has negotiated

Prime Minister Theresa May remained defiant soon after it emerged on Wednesday morning that she will face a challenge to her leadership when the required number of Conservative MPs – 48 – sent in letters expressing lack of confidence in her, throwing the Brexit process into another phase of turmoil.

Britain's Prime Minister Theresa May leaves 10 Downing Street, London, Britain.(REUTERS)
Britain's Prime Minister Theresa May leaves 10 Downing Street, London, Britain.(REUTERS)

The letters were sent to the party’s so-called 1922 committee, which is tasked with organising such challenges to the leadership. Voting will be held on Wednesday from 6pm to 8pm (UK time), and the result will be announced soon after.

May will need the support of more than 50% of the 315 Conservative MPs to stay in office, at least 158. If she loses, she will step down as the prime minister, the post she held after David Cameron resigned in the aftermath of the 2016 EU referendum vote.

Speaking outside 10 Downing Street, May insisted she would stay the course by contesting the leadership challenge: “I will contest that vote with everything that I have got”.

Removing her as prime minister will not change anything except delay Brexit or halt Brexit, she said. The United Kingdom is due to leave in the European Union on March 29, 2019, but serious questions remains on the ways in which it leaves and its future outside the EU.

May, who toured European capitals on Tuesday to seek changes to the withdrawal agreement secured after over two years of negotiations with Brussels, was due to attend parliament and face the opposition during Prime Minister’s Question Time in the afternoon.

The development follows deferring of the crucial vote in parliament on the controversial withdrawal agreement, which was scheduled for Tuesday. Conservative MPs and others condemned her handling of the Brexit process during debates in the House of Commons.

Prospective leadership contenders are former foreign secretary Boris Johnson, former Brexit secretary Dominic Raab, home secretary Sajid Javid, and international development secretary Penny Mordaunt.

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