12/12/2018

Theresa May To Face Leadership Challenge

Prime Minister Theresa May is to face a confidence vote in Westminster tonight, Wednesday 12 December.

A minimum of 48 Conservative MPs, 15% of the party, were required to write to the 1922 Committee expressing that they no longer had confidence in Mrs May as party leader. Head of the Committee, Sir Graham Brady, confirmed this morning that the required number of letters had been received and that the vote would be held between at 6pm today. The results are expected to be released tonight.

If Mrs May loses the vote she will remain as "caretaker prime minister" while the party votes in a new leader. Should only one candidate stand, they will take over as leader and prime minister. However, if multiple candidates stand, Conservative MPs will hold a series of votes until just two remain. It is understood that with multiple candidates the process could take up to six weeks.

However, if Mrs May wins the secret ballot, she cannot be challenged again for another year.

Mrs May has been leader of the Conservatives in 2016, following the Brexit referendum has face widespread criticism over the exit deal she has negotiated with the EU.

Following confirmation of the vote of confidence, Mrs May said that she would contest the vote "with everything I have got".

Speaking outside No. 10, Mrs May warned that a new prime minister would have to make a decision on Article 50, under which the UK will leave the EU, stating that they would be "delaying or even stopping Brexit".

(MH)

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