Britain’s plan for leaving the European Union has not changed, Prime Minister Theresa May’s spokesman said yesterday, despite a disastrous election gamble that has plunged British politics into chaos days before formal Brexit talks begin.
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Opposition Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn vows to introduce a motion of no confidence in the government early next week, when the Queen opens the newly elected Parliament, thereby forcing a new general election that, based on the latest opinion polls, Labour could win.
The prime minister said she meant to form a government with the Democratic Unionists to form a government that would “provide certainty” and “lead Britain forward at this critical time for our country”, according to the BBC.
UK Prime Minister Theresa May, clinging on in Downing Street, will appeal for the support of her members of parliament (MPs) Monday, after losing the Conservatives a cherished government majority in last week’s election.
But there were signs that not all was going to plan. May’s political opponents said that the possible rescheduling signaled that May’s minority government is having more problems than it’s letting on.
Playing down the prospect of an immediate challenge to Mrs May’s leadership, Brexit Minister David Davis – who has been touted as a contender to replace the prime minister – said speculation about her removal was “unbelievably self-indulgent”. “We know those talks are going well and also we know that, at this very important time, we want to produce a substantial Queen’s Speech”. Within the Cabinet, May was the toughest voice on non-EU immigration, – for example insisting on keeping students in the net migration figures against most of the rest of her cabinet.
This is likely to pose an obstacle to the types of strict border controls advocated by those in the Conservative Party who support a “hard” Brexit.
The public utterances of Boris Johnson himself are that the party should unite behind Mrs May.
May has a busy schedule on Tuesday, hosting a cabinet meeting and talks with the DUP leader before travelling to Paris to meet French President Emmanuel Macron.
Theresa May defeated her hard left Socialist opponent, Jeremy Corbyn, whose big government, high tax, heavy spending agenda promised to return the United Kingdom to the dark days of the 1970s, when Britain’s economy was dubbed the “sick man” of Europe.
He told Sky News: “It’s in the week of next week, basically, the first discussions”.
At the Conservative’s election campaign headquarters in London, there was reportedly a stunned silence when it became clear that they had lost their majority.
The political upheaval has not only created worries in Europe, but also appears to have crossed the Atlantic.
An admirer of Karl Marx and Hugo Chavez, Mr. Corbyn is arguably the most radical left-wing party leader in British electoral history.
Ministers have urged May to put forward a more “pragmatic” vision for Brexit rather than “ideological”, one that it less virulently anti-EU.
“Trying to make a hung parliament and a minority government work requires a much more inclusive approach and bringing people into the decision-making process”.
“When the facts change, I’ll change my mind”, said Keith Skeoch, chief executive of Scottish insurer and asset manager Standard Life, borrowing a quote from economist John Maynard Keynes.
May’s office said the Trump state visit was still on. Senior EU officials and politicians have said May can postpone the date if she needs to, but with a final deadline for exiting the EU in March 2019, precious negotiating time would be lost if delayed.
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She explained that her government will seek to lead the country through Brexit negotiations, rejecting speculation she will delay negotiations on leaving the European Union which begin in ten days’ time.
