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Theresa May wins confidence vote after 200 MPs back her leadership – Politics live Theresa May survives confidence vote with a majority of 83 – Politics live
(35 minutes later)
Here’s the full transcript of the short speech Theresa May has just given outside Number 10:
This has been a long and challneging day. But, at the end of it, I’m pleased to have received the backing of my collegaues in tonight’s ballot. Whilst I’m grateful for that support, a significant number of colleagues did cast a vote against me and I have listened to what they said.
Following this ballot, we now need to get on with the job of delivering Brexit for the British people and building a better future for this country – a Brexit that delivers on the vote that people gave, that brings back control of our money, our borders and our laws, that protects jobs, security and the union [and] that brings the country back together, rather than entrenching division. That must start here in Westminster with politicians on all sides coming together and acting in the national interest.
For my part, I have heard what the House of Commons said about the Northern Ireland backstop and, when I go to the European Council tomorrow, I will be seeking legal and political assurances that will assuage the concerns that members of Parliament have on that issue.
But, while delivering Brexit is important, we also need to focus on the other issues that people feel are vital to them, that matter to them to day to day – the issues that we came into politics to deal with. Building a stronger economy, delivering first class public services, building the homes that families need. We owe it to the people who put us here to put their priorities first.
So, here is our renewed mission: Delivering the Brexit that people voted for, bringing the country back together and building a country that truly works for everyone.
She ignored a shouted question about whether or not she would actually be able to get her Brexit deal through Parliament – something her own hard-Brexit supporting MPs are openly predicting she will fail to do.
This is what political journalists and commentators are saying about what the result means for Theresa May.
From the BBC’s Laura Kuenssberg
1. PM safe for tonight - % support higher than in 20162. But concerns far wider than organised ERG Brexiteer group3. Leadership can't pretend it's only 'headbangers' to use MP s word - who want her out -bigger loss than supporters expected4. Tory party stuck in Brexit gridlock
From the Spectator’s James Forsyth
Think 117 against has to be considered a disappointing result for her. It is a win, but weakens her authority still further especially given that this came after a pledge not to fight the next election https://t.co/DDTvwsaGxF
From ITV’s Robert Peston
Well over half of independent Tory MPs voted against her - and even then she had to concede she would not lead party into next election.
From Sky’s Lewis Goodall
May isn't safe. She is now beholden to her cabinet. They saved her today. With her position in the parliamentary party so parlous she is absolutely vulnerable to a visitation from the men and women in grey suits.
From the New Statesman’s George Eaton
Given how May squandered the Tory majority, it’s arguably surprising 200 Conservative MPs still have confidence 18 months later.
From the Sun’s Nick Gutteridge
The EU will look at these numbers and doubtless wonder why it should offer May any significant new assurances on the backstop. They lay brutally bare how minimal her chances are of getting the current deal, or anything that looks even remotely like it, through Parliament. https://t.co/lymkIquScl
From the Daily Mirror’s Pippa Crerar
The PM wins by 200 votes to 117 - that is a HUGE chunk of her own party to vote against her. There will be more trouble ahead.
From the New Statesman’s Jason Cowley
May can't get her signature Brexit deal through the House and 117 of her MPs have no confidence in her - in normal times, they'd be a general election, but these are seriously abnormal times ...
From the Sun’s Tom Newton Dunn
Result's significance: not to even to carry two thirds of her MPs' support (63%) is a blow. She limps on, but wounded.
From ITV’s Chris Ship
I just listened to Jacob Rees-Mogg calling this a ‘terrible result’ for the PM. 37% against v 63% for. I’m no mathematician, but that’s a bigger margin than the referendum’s 48% v 52%, no??
That is all from me.
My colleague Kevin Rawlinson is now taking over.
Theresa May has just been speaking outside Downing Street. She acknowledged that a “significant number” of her MPs voted against her and says she is listening to them. But, she said, she is going to get on with Brexit.
And May adopted the language Corbyn has used in recent days – highlighting that Brexit is not the only issue that faces the UK.
Jacob Rees-Mogg, the chair of the ERG, who led the push for a confidence vote, says he accepts the result, but that Theresa May should resign.
I accept the confidence vote result but Theresa May should still meet the Queen and resign, says leading Conservative Brexiteer Jacob Rees-MoggLatest updates: https://t.co/eU9qe2rnbG pic.twitter.com/RyhydqNFmm
From Philip Hammond, the chancellor
Tonight's vote of confidence in the Prime Minister @theresa_may, is the right one. Now is the time to focus on the future. Her deal means we will honour the referendum result while safeguarding jobs and maintaining business confidence.
Andrew Bridgen, one of May’s most vocal critics, says the party has just “kicked the can down the road”.
Andrew Bridgen MP - “The Parliamentary Party has just kicked the can down the road.”
Theresa May got 63% of the votes. That is less than the 66% that John Major got in 1995, when he triggered a leadership contest as prime minister and ended up fighting a contest against John Redwood (although that was a leadership election, not a confidence ballot).
Jeremy Corbyn, the Labour leader, has put out a statement about the result. He says:
Tonight’s vote makes no difference to the lives of our people.
The prime minister has lost her majority in parliament, her government is in chaos and she is unable to deliver a Brexit deal that works for the country and puts jobs and the economy first.
That’s why she pulled the vote on her botched Brexit deal this week and is trying to avoid bringing it back to parliament. It’s clear that she has not been able to negotiate the necessary changes in Europe.
She must now bring her dismal deal back to the House of Commons next week so parliament can take back control.
Labour is ready to govern for the whole country and deliver a deal that protects living standards and workers’ rights.
Chris Grayling, the transport secretary, has just told BBC News that this is a “strong vote of support” for May. She got more votes than she did in the 2016 leadership election, he says. (See 8.05pm.)
Sir Graham Brady is here. He is standing at end with the podium, surrounded by other members of the 1922 Committee.Sir Graham Brady is here. He is standing at end with the podium, surrounded by other members of the 1922 Committee.
He announces the result.He announces the result.
The result of the ballot this evening is that the parliamentary party does have confidence in ...The result of the ballot this evening is that the parliamentary party does have confidence in ...
And at that point we could not hear the rest, because of the cheering.And at that point we could not hear the rest, because of the cheering.
Here are the results.Here are the results.
For May: 200For May: 200
Against May: 117Against May: 117
Theresa May has won a confidence vote in her leadership of the Tory party by 200 to 117.Theresa May has won a confidence vote in her leadership of the Tory party by 200 to 117.
A majority of Conservative MPs backed her in a secret ballot after the prime minister signalled she would step down before the 2022 election.A majority of Conservative MPs backed her in a secret ballot after the prime minister signalled she would step down before the 2022 election.
Chief whip in room. SmilingChief whip in room. Smiling
The Telegraph’s Steven Swinford says May’s critics are not giving up.The Telegraph’s Steven Swinford says May’s critics are not giving up.
So what next for the Tory rebels, assuming that they lose tonight?Eurosceptics already thinking about the 'nuclear option' - a non-binding motion of no confidence against their own PM, removing her with backing of Labour, SNP & Lib Dems.They're not giving up...So what next for the Tory rebels, assuming that they lose tonight?Eurosceptics already thinking about the 'nuclear option' - a non-binding motion of no confidence against their own PM, removing her with backing of Labour, SNP & Lib Dems.They're not giving up...
... Unlike Mark Francois, a leading figure in the European Research Group, who is also here and looking a bit glum.... Unlike Mark Francois, a leading figure in the European Research Group, who is also here and looking a bit glum.
We might get a better picture soon. The Foreign Office minister Alan Duncan has just stood on a desk to taking a photograph of the waiting journalists. He is in a very jovial mood.We might get a better picture soon. The Foreign Office minister Alan Duncan has just stood on a desk to taking a photograph of the waiting journalists. He is in a very jovial mood.
From the FT’s Jim PickardFrom the FT’s Jim Pickard
not allowed to take a photo but if you’re wondering this is what committee room 14 looks like....over 100 journalists at one end, a gaggle of Tory MPs chatting at the other...we will find out May’s fate in 15 minutes pic.twitter.com/KJstqOPpVunot allowed to take a photo but if you’re wondering this is what committee room 14 looks like....over 100 journalists at one end, a gaggle of Tory MPs chatting at the other...we will find out May’s fate in 15 minutes pic.twitter.com/KJstqOPpVu
From my colleague Dan Sabbagh
Seema Kennedy, May's PPS, is here in the result room, smiling looking relaxed. If she knows the result, via the PM, then May has won decently. If...
It looks as if Theresa May will deliver a statement too.
Mic out in Downing St for PM statement...
We have now been admitted into committee room 14. It is the largest committee room in the building, and it is laid out like a mini debating chamber. On one side, there are deep windows overlooking the Thames and there are rows of benches, three rows on each side, facing each other. There is a raised bit at one end for the committee chair, and five rows of seats at the other end for the press and public.
There are about 60 more reporters here, and they have parked us mostly in the seats at the “public gallery” end. A handful of Conservative MP are at the other end, where a single camera has been set up to film Sir Graham Brady announce the result.
Two workmen have just walked past, in overalls and carrying what looked like paint. What is not often appreciated outside this building is how it has become a permanent building site. It’s falling to pieces (literally).
The Irish PM, Leo Varadkar, and the European commission president, Jean-Claude Juncker, have insisted that the withdrawal agreement “cannot be reopened or contradicted”. As the Press Association reports, the pair spoke by telephone on Wednesday evening and an Irish government spokesman said “both agreed that the withdrawal agreement is a balanced compromise and the best outcome available”. He went on:
While they agreed to work to provide reassurance to the UK, the agreement cannot be reopened or contradicted.
In the absence of facts, you get ... speculation.
Here are some of the result estimates doing the round.
From Jonathan Isaby, editor of BrexitCentral
Tory MPs are not for nothing known as the most duplicitous electorate in Christendom. But for what it’s worth, when voting closes at 8pm my guesstimate is that Theresa May will have secured the support of around 170-195 colleagues, with 122-147 against her.
From assorted lobby journalists
Lobby room 12 sweepstakes. Votes against the PM:@CharlieCooper8: 88@IanDunt: 105@AdamBienkov: 101@TomMcTague: 73@NewsAnnabelle: 106@thepatrickdaly: 95
Theresa May has arrived back in Downing Street. She is not going to be in committee room 14 to hear the result in person.
Jacob Rees-Mogg, the Tory Brexiter, said Theresa May had notably “hedged her bets” on whether she might stay on long enough if not ousted to fight the next election. Speaking after the 1922 Committee meeting earlier, he said:
She said that in her heart she would like to fight the 2022 election, but that she recognised the party did not want her to, and therefore it was not her intention to.
But the word ‘intention’ is a classic politician’s words, because intentions can change. She didn’t say, ‘I will not be the leader in 2022,’ she said it was not her intention.
She was asked, if there was an election within the next year, would you stand down, and she mumbled.
Rees-Mogg sought to play down the impact of a narrow May victory.
If you look at the payroll – ministers, PPSs, trade envoys, deputy chairmen of the party – she needs to carry more than half of the genuine backbenchers. If she doesn’t, that shows that the only people really supporting her are people who receive the Queen’s shilling.
Told 100% turnout in no con vote
One minister 'I'd like to punch the ERG in the face - this is our moment to show that they are NOT the Tory party' - their challenge to PM seems to have failed, but they still certainly have numbers to carry on blocking her in Parliament