Top Pro-Brexit MP Requests No-confidence Vote In British PM
Mohammad Ali (@ChaudhryMAli88) Published November 16, 2018 | 02:27 AM
London, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 16th Nov, 2018 ) :Conservative MP Jacob Rees-Mogg, leader of the hardline pro-Brexit European Research Group of lawmakers, on Thursday requested a vote of no-confidence in the British prime minister.
The ERG leader handed in a letter to the party's parliamentary group in the House of Commons after a raucous session of parliament in which Theresa May sought to defend her draft Brexit agreement despite trenchant opposition.
"Regrettably, the draft Withdrawal Agreement presented to parliament today has turned out to be worse than anticipated and fails to meet the promises given to the nation," he wrote in the letter to Graham Brady, head of the 1922 Committee which administers party leadership elections.
"Therefore, in accordance with the relevant rules and procedures... this is a formal letter of No Confidence in the Leader of the party." If 48 Conservative MPs write similar letters then a leadership contest is triggered.
Although other MPs have already sent letters, all eyes were on Rees-Mogg given his influence over Brexit supporting MPs.
Only Brady knows how many letters have so far been submitted, with speculation mounting that the threshold may be close following the publication of May's Brexit divorce deal.
The backbench MP told reporters that a challenge could be launched within weeks.
"I think it can be done quite quickly," he said. "The parliamentary processes can be sped up," suggesting a time frame of "not months, but I think weeks".
Rees-Mogg on Wednesday rejected the deal, saying it threatened the integrity of the United Kingdom, prevented Britain from striking free-trade deals with the rest of the world and made the country a "permanent rule taker" from Brussels.
If May wins a leadership contest, she will remain in office and cannot be challenged again for a year.
If she loses -- meaning a majority of the party's 315 MPs vote against her -- she must step down and cannot stand in the leadership election.
Rees-Mogg insisted that his move was "nothing to do with personal ambition", adding "I'm not offering my name as leader".
Outgoing Brexit minister Dominic Raab is one of the favourites to win any leadership vote, followed closely by former foreign secretary and Brexit figurehead Boris Johnson and interior minister Sajid Javid.
Related Topics
Recent Stories
Punjab CM inaugurates Pakistan’s first Virtual Women Police Station
Dutch model Donny Roelvink embraces Islam
Experts raise concerns over introduction of 10-stick packs
Iranian president arrives in Karachi
Law Minister expresses Govt's resolve to address issue of missing persons
Rizwan’s batting order may be changed: Sources
Nawaz Sharif to visit Guangzhou exhibition in China
FM Dar not traveling to China: Foreign Office
PM takes notice of deliberate delay in tax cases
Iranian President visits Allama Iqbal’s mausoleum
Iranian President arrives in Lahore today
Currency Rate In Pakistan - Dollar, Euro, Pound, Riyal Rates On 23 April 2024
More Stories From World
-
Migrant boat capsizes off Djibouti leaving 21 dead
3 hours ago -
Tesla profits tumble 55% as EV sales under pressure
3 hours ago -
Talks on global plastic treaty begin in Canada
3 hours ago -
Migrant deportations loom after parliament passes UK-Rwanda plan
4 hours ago -
Macron in last-ditch bid to halt EU vote battering
4 hours ago -
Ukraine moves to bring military-aged men home to fight
5 hours ago
-
Asia hit hardest by climate change, extreme weather: UN weather agency
5 hours ago -
Muscles and masterpieces: Louvre offers Olympic sport sessions
5 hours ago -
Migrant boat capsizes off Djibouti leaving 16 dead
5 hours ago -
UK Rwanda law sparks fear among migrants hoping to cross Channel
7 hours ago -
China issues highest-level rainstorm warning after deadly floods
7 hours ago -
UK's Sunak announces raised defence spending, new Ukraine aid
8 hours ago