Theresa May will face a vote of no confidence in her leadership later today, after 48 of her own MPs delivered letters calling for a contest, triggering a leadership challenge.
Things have gone from bad to worse for the embattled prime minister, who took the reigns shortly after the UK voted to leave the European Union in 2016, and has faced criticism from both Brexiteers and Remainers over her proposed Brexit divorce deal with the EU.
This morning, May delivered a speech outside of Number 10, in which she vowed to fight the contest with everything she's got. Finishing her address, she said:
I have devoted myself unsparingly to these tasks ever since I became prime minister and I stand ready to finish the job.
Conservative MPs are due to vote on her leadership between 6pm and 8pm this evening, and Mrs May will need a majority in her favour to win. If she fails to do so, there will be a contest in which she won't be able to stand.
Needless to say, at this point people are starting to lose the will to live, and also losing confidence in British democracy.
current status of british politics: https://t.co/MEUGiQr0sw— Alan White (@Alan White) 1544603552
After two and a half years of nationwide chaos & confusion caused by Conservative infighting, the Conservatives hav… https://t.co/PooQjBw4n7— James Oh Brien (@James Oh Brien) 1544603512
The UK this morning. https://t.co/lnIZGHG2WX— Nimco Ali (OBE) 🔻 (@Nimco Ali (OBE) 🔻) 1544602653
We now go live to Westminster. https://t.co/k9hJl4jbBJ— Carl Maxim (@Carl Maxim) 1544602648
This GIF is the government, except also the mug is on fire, and the dog is on fire and all that’s left is ash and t… https://t.co/fljqK7mdjm— Sam Homewood (@Sam Homewood) 1544602372
"Titanic crew seek no confidence in captain 30 seconds before impact with iceberg and assure passengers that a new… https://t.co/GUjAi6bzUp— Richard Littler (@Richard Littler) 1544601699
Walking into the Job center like #NoConfidence #Brexit https://t.co/rTYLMdyw02— Robert Mullane🏳️🌈 (@Robert Mullane🏳️🌈) 1544602512
Bloody hell, they replaced her quickly! #noconfidence https://t.co/tXbDUG6ogc— Tiernan Douieb (@Tiernan Douieb) 1544604072
People pretending to be the Prime Minister #NoConfidence #LeadershipChallenge https://t.co/owQi6DP2OX— Charlie Proctor (@Charlie Proctor) 1544604674
Thinking about Theresa May being kicked out then remembering who the alternatives are #NoConfidence https://t.co/gokuSbR95G— Grace 🏴 (@Grace 🏴) 1544604711
The Tory leadership challenge is like whichever silent film it was which had two people squabbling over who gets to… https://t.co/iOwtBhkGjP— Hugo Rifkind (@Hugo Rifkind) 1544602643
Hanging on in quiet desperation is the English way. https://t.co/QbXIIDrdi9— John Harris (@John Harris) 1544605182
The bastards who got us in to bastard mess are now calling each other bastards. https://t.co/HE36MPUlnL— Jay Rayner (@Jay Rayner) 1544603683
They're also unimpressed by the other leadership options available...
Who will be up next for the Tory leadership? The bellend? The massive bellend? The racist bellend? The creepy belle… https://t.co/WMvfEGqlAr— TechnicallyRon (@TechnicallyRon) 1544601470
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