British Prime Minister Theresa May makes a statement after winning the confidence vote outside 10 Downing Street in London, Britain, on Dec. 12, 2018. Theresa May on Wednesday won by a large margin a confidence vote by her fellow Conservative members of parliament. — XINHUA PhotoViet Nam News LONDON — British Prime Minister Theresa May on Wednesday survived a confidence vote by her own MPs but lost the support of one third of her colleagues, signalling the battle she still faces to get her Brexit deal through parliament. May won the backing of 200 Conservative lawmakers, but 117 voted to oust her -- and only after she conceded she would step down before the 2022 election. "I’m pleased to have received the backing of my colleagues in tonight’s ballot," she said outside her Downing Street office after the result was announced. "A significant number of colleagues did cast votes against me and I’ve listened to what they’ve said." She said she wanted … [Read more...] about UK PM survives confidence vote over Brexit deal
When commons vote on brexit deal
British parliament to vote on Brexit deal on Dec 11
Britain's Prime Minister Theresa May giving a statement to the House of Commons in London to update parliament on the newly-agreed Brexit deal. (HO/AFP/PRU) LONDON: British MPs will hold a crucial vote on Dec 11 to approve or reject the Brexit deal agreed with EU leaders, Prime Minister Theresa May said on Monday (Nov 26). "I am looking ahead to December 11 ... when this House will be faced with the decision as to whether or not it wishes to deliver on the vote of the British people," she told parliament. May faced parliamentary fury on Monday as she set off on the tricky task of convincing mutinous lawmakers to back her EU divorce deal. The British leader on Sunday crowned 17 months of painful talks with Brussels by sealing Brexit arrangements with the 27 other EU heads of state and government. But this tortuous chapter on ending Britain's 45-year involvement in the grand European project was always going to be the easy part. May must now navigate the Brexit agreement through a … [Read more...] about British parliament to vote on Brexit deal on Dec 11
UK’s May wins cabinet backing for Brexit deal
Britain’s Prime Minister Theresa May said cabinet approval of a draft Brexit agreement was a 'collective decision'. — AFP/VNA PhotoViet Nam News LONDON — British Prime Minister Theresa May won the support of her bitterly divided cabinet on Wednesday for a draft divorce deal with the European Union that has put both Brexit and her leadership at stake. May emerged from a five-hour meeting with ministers that had sent the value of the pound gyrating to announce she had the government’s "collective" backing to move ahead with the plan. "The collective decision of cabinet was that the government should agree the draft withdrawal agreement and the outline political declaration," May said outside her Downing Street office. A spokesman said the meeting ended without any explicit threats of resignation and everyone unwinding with a glass of wine and some snacks. But the embattled leader conceded that she could face even stronger resistance when she takes the … [Read more...] about UK’s May wins cabinet backing for Brexit deal
Britain announces draft Brexit deal with EU
British PM Theresa May briefed ministers about the outline deal on Tuesday ahead of a special cabinet meeting on Wednesday afternoon to sign off the text, her Downing Street office said. (AFP/Tolga Akmen) LONDON: Britain has agreed a draft Brexit deal with the European Union, Prime Minister Theresa May announced on Tuesday (Nov 13), although she must still get it through her cabinet and the deeply divided parliament. The breakthrough after months of acrimonious negotiations came with fears mounting of a potentially catastrophic scenario, in which Britain leaves the bloc in March with no deal at all. Yet numerous hurdles stand in the way of a final agreement, most of them in London, where members of May's own cabinet and party are once again arguing over how to proceed. Ministers were individually briefed about the deal's outline on Tuesday evening, ahead of a special cabinet meeting on Wednesday to sign off the text, Downing Street said. "Cabinet will meet at 2:00pm (1400 GMT) … [Read more...] about Britain announces draft Brexit deal with EU
EU leaders urge progress as UK eyes Brexit deal by Nov 21
LONDON — Britain’s Brexit minister believes a divorce deal with the European Union could be struck by November 21, it emerged Wednesday, prompting EU leaders to warn this would require a breakthrough within days. Brexit Secretary Dominic Raab made the optimistic comment in a letter to the House of Commons Brexit scrutiny committee, dated October 24 but only now made public. "I would be happy to give evidence to the committee when a deal is finalised, and currently expect 21 November to be suitable," he wrote. Both Raab and Oliver Robbins, Prime Minister Theresa May’s chief Brexit advisor, have been invited to address the committee on that date. Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt echoed the optimism, telling an event in London: "It’s entirely possible that we could make enough progress by then." However, May’s spokesman was more cautious, repeating only that "we wish to conclude the deal as quickly as possible". Most of the divorce deal with Brussels is … [Read more...] about EU leaders urge progress as UK eyes Brexit deal by Nov 21