Theresa May announced Wednesday her intention to step down as Prime Minister before the next legislative elections of 2022, to try to counter a vote of no-confidence organized by her Conservative Party, hostile to its Brexit agreement with Brussels.
The threat of a vote of no confidence. "She said she did not intend to lead (the campaign) for the 2022 elections," Conservative MP Alec Shelbrooke told reporters.
The leader was speaking before the 1922 Committee, responsible for the internal organization of the Conservatives, before a vote of no confidence triggered by 48 Conservative MPs, or 15% of the group, threshold required for this election. The vote began around 18h and the results should be announced around 21H00, one hour after its closure.
Theresa May will fight "with all her strength". In a short statement in front of Downing Street in the morning, Theresa May was combative, announcing that she would fight "with all her might" to stay in place and "finish the job" on the Brexit. If she had to leave Downing Street, her chosen substitute in the conservatives "would not have time to renegotiate" with the EU and that might "delay or even stop the Brexit", scheduled for March 29, 2019, has she warned.
Several members of her government quickly lined up behind her, multiplying public testimonials of support. A count of the BBC said she was assured of the support of half the votes plus one needed to stay in place, 159 votes, which pushed up the pound. If she wins the vote, Theresa May can not be challenged as head of the Tories for a year. But a short victory would be a serious snub. And the puzzle of Brexit would not be completed yet.