UK in crisis as Theresa May challenge is on

Theresa May is facing a leadership contest amid the biggest Westminster politi­cal crisis since World War II.

Theresa May was to face a leadership contest early this morning, amid the biggest Westminster politi­cal crisis since World War II.

Politicians have demanded change at the top to short-circuit the current Brexit impasse that has paralysed the British economy and as the public becomes increasingly frustrated and ­angered over the Brexit shambles.

The Prime Minister has been derided as having no power, and the confidence vote and leadership contest could result in the country being leaderless over the Christmas period as voting takes place, quaintly, by post.

However, former prime minister David Cameron, who sparked the Brexit referendum and then resigned after the result was known, last night said: “I hope Conservative MPs will back the PM in the vote today. We need no distractions from seeking the best outcome with our neighbours, friends and partners in the EU.’’

All cabinet ministers had last night tweeted support for Mrs May and 158 Tory MPs had also pledged their backing, the required number for her stay as prime minister.

If she loses, she will be banned from standing in the leadership contest.

The deputy chair of the Conservative Party, James Cleverly, said on Sky News: “I think she will win it.’’

Mrs May yesterday said “I will contest this with everything I have got’’, insisting that a “change of leadership will put our country at risk … delaying or even stopping Brexit. Weeks tearing ourselves apart will risk further division.’’

In a feisty session at Prime Ministerial question time, Mrs May came under attack from Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn who demanded that Mrs May bring the Brexit bill back to parliament for a vote. He said the Tory vote in her leadership was irrelevant to the Brexit concerns.

Mrs May was accused of being contemptuous of parliament when she refused to give a timetable when the Brexit deal would be voted upon. ‘’It’s clear nothing has changed’’ Mr Corbyn said.

Scottish nationalist Ian Blackford said the situation was a farce. “Do the right thing, resign,’’ he said.

Mrs May told the parliament that there was ‘’some progress’’ in her discussions with European leaders, but provided no detail.

Leading contenders are being groomed, literally, to take her place, with former foreign secretary and Brexiteer Boris Johnson sporting a fresh haircut and weight loss.

Home Secretary Sajid Javid, who voted Remain but is in favour of a hard Brexit, has been openly canvassing support in recent days, calling for an “authentic’’ leader, yet last night he was expressing support for Mrs May.

The last thing our country needs right now is a Conservative Party leadership election. 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

— Sajid Javid (@sajidjavid) December 12, 2018

Foreign Minister Jeremy Hunt is seen as a viable compromise candidate, while former Brexit minister Dominic Raab and Esthe­r McVey may also stand.

All Tory candidates have negative popular­ity rankings.

For weeks, Tory backbenchers have been reluctant to put their name to one of the 48 letters required to begin a leadership vote of no confid­ence in case Mrs May wins the initial vote and quarantines herself from no-­confidence votes for 12 months.

But last night the chairman of the 1922 backbench committee, Graham Brady, announced that the no-confidence vote had been triggered, with the initial vote to be held between 5am and 7am today (AEDT).

Businesses are utterly dismayed at the political developments according to director general of the British Chambers of Commerce, Adam Marshall, saying it was unacceptable Westminster politicians have chosen to focus on themselves rather than on the needs of the country.

“The dismay amongst businesses watching events in Westminster cannot be exaggerated,’’ he said. “History will not be kind to those who prioritise political advantage over people’s livelihoods.’’

The vote was prompted by MPs aghast at Mrs May’s refusal to put her Brexit deal to parliament. Many feel her strategy was to waste enough time before the March 29 Brexit deadline so her flawed deal would be passed by panicked parliamentarians faced with the only other alternative: no deal and trading with Europe on World Trade Organisa­tion terms.

Senior Tory politician Bill Cash quoted John of Gaunt’s speech in Shakespeare’s Richard II, likening Mrs May’s deal to a “rotten parchment” that has made a “shameful conquest of itself”.

Mrs May’s whistle-stop tour of Europe immediately after deferring Tuesday’s vote has failed to change the contentious Irish backstop that would keep Britain locked inside of EU control if it were to be activated.

“We said that there will be no further opening of the exit deal,” German Chancellor Angela Mer­kel said after meeting Mrs May.

Her talks with European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker and European Council president Donald Tusk were no more successful.

Behind the scenes, the brazen attempt by her minders to bring forward the Christmas recess to head off any Labour initiated moves against the government has further ignited public fury. Last week, the Tories made history as the first government to have been found in contempt of parliament when it refused to table legal advic­e on Brexit.

Straight after returning from Brussels, Mrs May met with her chief whip, Julian Smith, in a late-night crisis meeting at No 10 Downing Street. There are suggestions she was being pressured to step down before the vote and allow an interim prime minister to take charge until a more formal challenge is conducted, but those closest to Mrs May insist she is unlikely to agree and believes she has the numbers to fend off a challenge and remai­n Prime Minister.

Labour leader ­Jeremy Corbyn is resisting pressure from minority parties and 50 of his backbenchers to call for a vote of no confidence in the government, saying he’d take “appropriate action at the appro­priate time’’.

Leadership contest against Theresa May triggered pic.twitter.com/ywrWpq9WfT

— Mike Kumar (@Mike_KumarSky) December 12, 2018