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Theresa May under pressure to name departure date Theresa May: No decision on exit date until after Brexit vote
(about 1 hour later)
Theresa May has held talks with senior Conservative MPs who are demanding she sets a date for her departure from Downing Street. No decision will be taken on when Theresa May leaves Downing Street until after MPs vote on her Brexit plan again early next month.
The prime minister, under growing pressure from her own MPs to quit, met the executive of the backbench 1922 Committee to discuss her future. The announcement follows a meeting between the PM and senior Conservative MPs who are demanding she sets a date for her departure from No 10.
The 1922 committee of Tory MPs said it would discuss the issue again after the Brexit vote in the first week of June.
It said it hoped to agree a timetable for a leadership contest at that point.
Existing rules mean she cannot be formally challenged until December.Existing rules mean she cannot be formally challenged until December.
Mrs May has said her departure depends on delivering Brexit, but her plan has been rejected by MPs three times. The statement on the agreement reached between the executive of the 1922 committee and the prime minister states they will meet following the first debate and vote on the withdrawal bill.
She will attempt to push her plans through the House of Commons again in the week beginning 3 June, when MPs hold a vote on the withdrawal bill - needed to implement the Brexit deal the prime minister reached with the EU. Chairman Sir Graham Brady said he had had a frank discussion with the prime minister and the agreement they had reached had brought "greater clarity" to her intentions.
Mrs May will attempt to push her plans through the House of Commons again in the week beginning 3 June, when MPs hold a vote on the EU Withdrawal Agreement Bill - needed to implement her deal with the EU.
Mrs May had said she will go after the Commons backed the withdrawal agreement she reached with the EU, but her plan has been rejected by MPs three times.
When asked whether she would resign if the bill was rejected, Mrs May said it would "ensure that we deliver Brexit for the public".When asked whether she would resign if the bill was rejected, Mrs May said it would "ensure that we deliver Brexit for the public".
The 1922 Committee's executive had been expected to press Mrs May on her departure timetable.
BBC political editor Laura Kuenssberg said the MPs were now meeting in a different room in Parliament without the prime minister.
Last month, the 1922 Committee executive narrowly decided against changing the party's leadership rules to allow an early challenge to Mrs May.Last month, the 1922 Committee executive narrowly decided against changing the party's leadership rules to allow an early challenge to Mrs May.
Pressure has grown on Mrs May since the Conservatives' local election drubbing two weeks ago. Much of the anger in the parliamentary party is focusing on Mrs May's talks with Labour, aimed at reaching a cross-party compromise to get her deal through the Commons.Pressure has grown on Mrs May since the Conservatives' local election drubbing two weeks ago. Much of the anger in the parliamentary party is focusing on Mrs May's talks with Labour, aimed at reaching a cross-party compromise to get her deal through the Commons.
Theresa May's very long goodbyeTheresa May's very long goodbye
Twice my colleague in Paris asked the prime minister if she would resign if her Brexit plan is rejected by MPs again. Twice she completely swerved the question.Twice my colleague in Paris asked the prime minister if she would resign if her Brexit plan is rejected by MPs again. Twice she completely swerved the question.
You can't blame her for wanting to avoid it. Theresa May is not exactly fond of revealing much in interviews in any case.You can't blame her for wanting to avoid it. Theresa May is not exactly fond of revealing much in interviews in any case.
And for her to go anywhere near tangling with her potential exit would have breathed even more fire into the frenzied speculation.And for her to go anywhere near tangling with her potential exit would have breathed even more fire into the frenzied speculation.
But it is notable that the prime minister didn't even repeat any of her rehearsed lines about her promise to see this phase of Brexit through, and then go.But it is notable that the prime minister didn't even repeat any of her rehearsed lines about her promise to see this phase of Brexit through, and then go.
Read the full analysisRead the full analysis
Local Tory associations have confirmed they will hold a vote of confidence in her leadership on 15 June, although its result will not be binding.Local Tory associations have confirmed they will hold a vote of confidence in her leadership on 15 June, although its result will not be binding.
Eurosceptic MP Peter Bone produced a letter from Conservative activists in the Commons on Wednesday, saying they had lost confidence in the prime minister and want her to resign before European elections on 23 May.Eurosceptic MP Peter Bone produced a letter from Conservative activists in the Commons on Wednesday, saying they had lost confidence in the prime minister and want her to resign before European elections on 23 May.
They view Mrs May deal with the EU as "worse than staying in the European Union", he said.They view Mrs May deal with the EU as "worse than staying in the European Union", he said.
Mrs May's former chief of staff, Nick Timothy, wrote in his Daily Telegraph column that the prime minister must "accept that the game is up", and quit to avoid a "national humiliation" and save the Conservative Party.Mrs May's former chief of staff, Nick Timothy, wrote in his Daily Telegraph column that the prime minister must "accept that the game is up", and quit to avoid a "national humiliation" and save the Conservative Party.
Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown, treasurer of the 1922 Committee, said: "What I would like to see is her set out a timetable to trigger a leadership contest."Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown, treasurer of the 1922 Committee, said: "What I would like to see is her set out a timetable to trigger a leadership contest."
He said it would be "infinitely preferable if she set a date rather than us force her out".He said it would be "infinitely preferable if she set a date rather than us force her out".
Prominent Brexiteer Mark Francois said a predicted poor performance by the Conservatives in next week's European Parliament elections would increase the pressure on Mrs May to stand down.Prominent Brexiteer Mark Francois said a predicted poor performance by the Conservatives in next week's European Parliament elections would increase the pressure on Mrs May to stand down.
When the results are announced, "my colleagues will finally wake up and smell the coffee if they have not, indeed, done so already," he added.When the results are announced, "my colleagues will finally wake up and smell the coffee if they have not, indeed, done so already," he added.
But International Development Secretary Liam Fox told BBC Radio 4's Today programme the prime minister's pledge to stand down when the Commons supports her Brexit withdrawal deal showed "integrity" as she was "willing to make that personal sacrifice to get the policy through".But International Development Secretary Liam Fox told BBC Radio 4's Today programme the prime minister's pledge to stand down when the Commons supports her Brexit withdrawal deal showed "integrity" as she was "willing to make that personal sacrifice to get the policy through".
He said the public had instructed MPs to deliver Brexit in the 2016 referendum, asking: "Why have they not carried it out?"He said the public had instructed MPs to deliver Brexit in the 2016 referendum, asking: "Why have they not carried it out?"
Brexit Secretary Stephen Barclay told MPs their concerns had been listened to and that was "reflected in the draft legislation that is being prepared".Brexit Secretary Stephen Barclay told MPs their concerns had been listened to and that was "reflected in the draft legislation that is being prepared".
But shadow Brexit secretary Keir Starmer said Labour opposed the idea of passing the bill without an agreed cross-party deal, as it would "put the cart before the horse". Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said his party will not support the Withdrawal Agreement Bill unless it guarantees membership of a customs union with the EU, and protects workers' rights, consumer rights and environmental rights.
He questioned whether the bill was "about keeping the prime minister in office for another week, to give her a lifeline" ahead of the 1922 Committee executive meeting. "Our view is there has to be a relationship with Europe that guarantees those things, and if that bill doesn't do it then we won't support it," he said.