The “strong and stable” one is facing a vote of no confidence on Wednesday evening, after nearly 50 of her own party members turned against her.
British Prime Minister Theresa May will face a vote of no confidence in her government, the head of a Conservative Party committee in charge of organising leadership challenges said on Wednesday.
Theresa May: No confidence vote details
The chief of the so-called 1922 Committee, Graham Brady, said the vote by Conservative Party members will be held between 18:00 and 20:00 GMT (20:00 and 22:00 SAST), with results “announced as soon as possible in the evening”.
A wing of the most ardent critics of the European Union in May’s party have been collecting letters calling on her to resign for some months.
But May’s decision on Monday to postpone a parliamentary vote on her draft withdrawal agreement with the European Union that she was certain to lose sparked anger among many MPs.
Several past members of May’s government — including former foreign minister Boris Johnson — have had their eyes on the premiership post.
If May survived the motion, no second one can be taken by party members for another year. Several top members of her cabinet quickly rallied to her support.
“The last thing our country needs right now is a Conservative Party leadership election,” Home Secretary Sajid Javid tweeted. Javid himself has been mentioned as a possible replacement for May.
“Will be seen as self-indulgent and wrong. PM has my full support and is best person to ensure we leave EU on 29 March,” Javid wrote. Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt added on Twitter:
“I am backing @theresa_may. Being PM most difficult job imaginable right now and the last thing the country needs is a damaging and long leadership contest.”
Conservative Party chairman Brandon Lewis also wrote:
“I fully back our Prime Minister. We have the right Leader of our Party, we have a duty to deliver for our country & I hope all my colleagues will join me & support @theresa_may to deliver for UK.”
May had been scheduled to appear in the House of Commons on Wednesday for a regular question-and-answer session with MPs. She was also expected to make a statement outside her Downing Street office later on Wednesday.
