Brexit Row: British PM Theresa May wins confidence vote in Parliament, calls on MPs to put 'self-interest' aside

A day after the devastating defeat over her Brexit divorce deal with the European Union (EU) in Parliament, British Prime Minister Theresa May on Wednesday won a confidence vote, averting a disorderly general election. Within minutes after May's historic parliamentarian defeat on Tuesday, opposition Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn moved a no-confidence motion against her government. The confidence vote took place at about 19:00 GMT on Wednesday and May's government won by 325 votes to 306 - a majority of 19. Over 100 lawmakers from her own party and legislators from the Democratic Unionist Party, who props up May's minority government, voted to keep her in power despite their strong opposition to the Brexit deal.  

Soon after her victory, May called on MPs from all parties to put the 'self-interest aside' and meet her individually on the way ahead for Brexit. She also promised that she would "continue to work to deliver on the solemn promise to the people of this country to deliver on the result of the referendum and leave the European Union".

The embattled prime minister further said, "We must find solutions that are negotiable and command sufficient support in this House", adding that she will return to the Commons on Monday to give MPs another vote on her plans.

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"The House has put its confidence in this government. I stand ready to work with any member of this House to deliver Brexit and ensure that this House retains the confidence of the British people," May was quoted as saying.

May's divorce deal to leave the European Union (EU) was overwhelmingly rejected by MPs on Tuesday, leaving the country with no plans for Brexit on March 29. The PM's bid to get the Withdrawal Agreement, struck between London and Brussels, was rejected by 432 votes to 202 - a majority of 230, the biggest defeat ever suffered by a British premier in modern history.

During a six-hour-long debate on his motion, Labour leader Corbyn argued that May's "zombie" administration had lost the right to govern the country.

"By any convention of this house, by any precedent, the loss of confidence and supply should mean they do the right thing and resign. If a government cannot get its legislation through parliament, it must go to the country for a new mandate and that must apply when it is on the key issue of the day," Corbyn said.

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Britain is set to exit the 28-member European Union, which it joined in 1973, on March 29. With just over two months to go until the scheduled departure, Britain is still undecide on what to do.

May (62), the leader of the Conservative Party, has spent two years negotiating the divorce plan aimed at bringing about an orderly Brexit and setting up a 21-month transition period to negotiate a free-trade deal with Brussels. It included both the withdrawal agreement on the terms on which the UK leaves the EU and a political declaration for the future relationship. In December, May survived another no-confidence vote by her own Conservative Party.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Theresa May's government won by 325 votes to 306 - a majority of 19.
• The no-confidence motion was moved by Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn.
• Britain is set to exit the 28-member European Union (EU) on March 29.