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Theresa May no-confidence vote - LIVE: Tory bid to dethrone PM fails yet Jacob Rees Mogg and hard-Brexit allies renew calls for her resignation

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Ashley Cowburn
Political Correspondent
,Lizzy Buchan,David Maclean
Wednesday 12 December 2018 23:52 GMT
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Theresa May wins vote of no confidence by 200 to 117

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Theresa May has won a vote of no confidence as the prime minister dashed the hopes of Brexiteer MPs to topple her.

Ms May was backed by 200 Tory MPs compared to 117 rebels who hoped to oust her, following the most dramatic 24 hours yet of the Brexit saga.

A secret ballot started at 6pm after the prime minister addressed the 1922 Committee of Conservative backbenchers, telling them she will not lead the party into the 2022 election.

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Jeremy Corbyn says: “Tonight’s vote makes no difference to the lives of our people.

“The Prime Minister has lost her majority in Parliament, her government is in chaos and she is unable to deliver a Brexit deal that works for the country and puts jobs and the economy first.

“That’s why she pulled the vote on her botched Brexit deal this week and is trying to avoid bringing it back to Parliament. It’s clear that she has not been able to negotiate the necessary changes in Europe.

“She must now bring her dismal deal back to the House of Commons next week so Parliament can take back control.

“Labour is ready to govern for the whole country and deliver a deal that protects living standards and workers’ rights.”

Ashley Cowburn12 December 2018 21:19

Shadow chancellor John McDonnell tweeted: "Shocking result for Theresa May. Even having offered to go before the next general election she still has a huge 117 Tory MPs, a third of her party, voting against her and not having confidence in her. Wow."

Ashley Cowburn12 December 2018 21:20

Ashley Cowburn12 December 2018 21:24

Ms May - speaking outside Downing Street - said she had a "renewed mission - delivering the Brexit people voted for, bringing the country back together and building a country that really works for everyone." 

She accepted that a "significant" number of Tory MPs had voted 

against her but said she now wanted to "get on with the job". 

Ashley Cowburn12 December 2018 21:33

European Research Group chairman Jacob Rees-Mogg tells Sky News Theresa May should resign as Prime Minister

James Crump12 December 2018 21:53

On Twitter, some are pointing out that Margaret Thatcher got 204 votes of confidence and still resigned, while Theresa May got four fewer. However, those votes represented 63% of Tory MPs for May, against Thatcher's 54%.

James Crump12 December 2018 22:01

James Crump12 December 2018 22:13

James Crump12 December 2018 22:14

A neat summing up of Theresa May's 'win' in this headline on US website Slate:

James Crump12 December 2018 22:17

Prisons Minister Rory Stewart said there were "no surprises" in the result.

He added: "The people that are saying she would resign are the people who two hours ago were saying she was going to lose the vote - it doesn't seem to me they are very good at acknowledging the results of democratic votes."

James Crump12 December 2018 22:20

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