Politics

Theresa May survives vote of no confidence after historic Brexit defeat

Jan 17, 2019

Theresa May took home the win in the vote of no confidence with a vote of 325 to 306. Source: Getty

Theresa May will remain the United Kingdom’s prime minister after surviving a tense vote of no confidence on Wednesday (UK time), 24 hours after her Brexit withdrawal plan suffered a historic defeat.

The 62-year-old took home a win, as MPs voted in her favour by a margin of 325 to 306, The Sydney Morning Herald reports. If May had lost the vote, she would have likely been forced to resign, with a general election to follow soon after, putting the ultimate fate of Brexit even more in doubt.

After winning the vote, May promised to hold talks with leaders of opposition parties and other lawmakers, starting immediately, in a bid to find a way forward for Britain’s EU exit.

“I do not take this responsibility lightly and my government will continue its work to increase our prosperity, guarantee our security and to strengthen our union,” May said in a statement after the 19-vote victory.

“And yes, we will also continue to work to deliver on the solemn promise we made to the people of this country to deliver on the result of the referendum, and leave the European Union.”

The United Kingdom are set to leave the European Union in a matter of weeks, with the official divorce date being March 29. Brexit was voted for by a majority of 53.4 per cent of the country in a referendum in June 2016.

The latest turn in Britain’s political saga came after opposition Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn called for a vote of no-confidence in the government after MPs rejected May’s Brexit deal by 230 votes.

The prime minister’s deal – which she has repeatedly said is the only one that Brussels will entertain – was crushed in the lower house by a spectacular majority of 230, with 203 votes for and 432 against.

Speaking after the defeat, Prime Minister May said: “It is clear that the house does not support this deal. But tonight’s vote tells us nothing about what it does support.

“Nothing about how – or even if – it intends to honour the decision the British people took in a referendum parliament decided to hold. People, particularly EU citizens who have made their home here and UK citizens living in the EU, deserve clarity on these questions as soon as possible. Those whose jobs rely on our trade with the EU need that clarity.”