Theresa May survives no confidence vote: what next?
Narrow win changes focus of Brexit strategy after PM calls for ideas
Prime Minister Theresa May has survived a no confidence vote in the House of Commons, eking out a narrow victory, after her planned Brexit deal was soundly rejected by MPs.
The government won the confidence of parliament by 325 votes to 306. However that result still leaves May with no clear way forward for Brexit as the deadline for the UK to leave the EU looms.
Speaking after the dramatic vote, the PM called on the leaders of other parties to come forward with their ideas on how to move forward.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
“So now MPs have made clear what they don’t want, we must all work constructively together to set out what parliament does want,” May said.
The Guardian reports that she has met with representatives from the Liberal Democrats, the SNP and Plaid Cymru, with plans already made to meet with other groups of MPs later this morning.
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has said that “before any ‘positive discussions’ can take place, the prime minister should rule out a no-deal Brexit”, reports the BBC.
A spokesman for Corbyn accused the government of trying to “blackmail” opposition parties to accept a compromise plan “against the threat of a chaotic exit on March 29”, the Financial Times says.
A number of opposition parties agree with Labour’s demand for a “no-deal Brexit” to be taken off the table.
Chancellor Philip Hammond has told business leaders that this could happen within days using a backbench bill, according to an exclusive report from The Daily Telegraph.
He said this could potentially lead to Article 50 being extended, says the newspaper.
“Could we extend the Article 50 deadline to give us more time? The simple answer is that the EU would not consider the request for the extension... unless or until we have a clear plan to go forward,” he is quoted as saying.
“The sequence has to be first to reach out to opinion across the Commons to establish the terms on which we can build a majority for a way forward.”
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
Why Bhutan hopes tourists will put a smile back on its face
Under The Radar The 'kingdom of happiness' is facing economic problems and unprecedented emigration
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK Published
-
7 beautiful towns to visit in Switzerland during the holidays
The Week Recommends Find bliss in these charming Swiss locales that blend the traditional with the modern
By Catherine Garcia, The Week US Published
-
The Week contest: Werewolf bill
Puzzles and Quizzes
By The Week US Published
-
John Prescott: was he Labour's last link to the working class?
Today's Big Quesiton 'A total one-off': tributes have poured in for the former deputy PM and trade unionist
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Last hopes for justice for UK's nuclear test veterans
Under the Radar Thousands of ex-service personnel say their lives have been blighted by aggressive cancers and genetic mutations
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
Will Donald Trump wreck the Brexit deal?
Today's Big Question President-elect's victory could help UK's reset with the EU, but a free-trade agreement with the US to dodge his threatened tariffs could hinder it
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
What is the next Tory leader up against?
Today's Big Question Kemi Badenoch or Robert Jenrick will have to unify warring factions and win back disillusioned voters – without alienating the centre ground
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
What is Lammy hoping to achieve in China?
Today's Big Question Foreign secretary heads to Beijing as Labour seeks cooperation on global challenges and courts opportunities for trade and investment
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Is Britain about to 'boil over'?
Today's Big Question A message shared across far-right groups listed more than 30 potential targets for violence in the UK today
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
UK's Starmer slams 'far-right thuggery' at riots
Speed Read The anti-immigrant violence was spurred by false rumors that the suspect in the Southport knife attack was an immigrant
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
How could J.D. Vance impact the special relationship?
Today's Big Question Trump's hawkish pick for VP said UK is the first 'truly Islamist country' with a nuclear weapon
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published