A still image from video footage shows Britain's Prime Minister Theresa May
A leadership challenge to British Prime Minister Theresa May could be completed in weeks, eurosceptic lawmaker Jacob Rees-Mogg said on Thursday.
"I think it can be done quite quickly. I think the parliamentary processes can be sped up," he told reporters, adding "not months, but I think weeks" when asked about a timeframe.
He named Boris Johnson, David Davis, Esther McVey and Dominic Raab, who have all quit May's cabinet this year, as possible future leaders, as well as Penny Mordaunt, who was widely rumoured to be considering her cabinet position.
Britain will leave the European Union on March 29 and will not suspend the process of leaving, Prime Minister Theresa May told parliament on Thursday.
UK PM 'we are preserving the integrity of the United Kingdom'
Brexit has strengthened the case of Scottish independence, said First Minister of Scotland Nicola Sturgeon on Thursday.Sturgeon’s remarks came shortly after two major cabinet ministers resigned from the U.K. Cabinet over a draft Brexit deal reached with the EU.Speaking at the Scottish parliament, Sturgeon said the proposed deal will place Scotland at a real competitive disadvantage to Northern Ireland.“This is not an academic or abstract argument but has real consequences for jobs and living standards in Scotland,” she said.“The Tory government is imploding as we speak, people the length and breadth of the U.K. are seriously worried about their jobs and their living standards on the line because of the ideology of this Tory government and the complete shambles they have made of the negotiations,” Sturgeon said.Sturgeon said that Brexit makes the case for independence grow stronger every day although, as usual, she won’t be drawn on timing of another referendum.“That time will come and when it does I have no doubt that the people of Scotland will choose to be independent,” she added.Earlier in the House of Commons, Scottish National Party leader in Westminster Ian Blackford described the deal as “dead in the water,” accusing the central Westminster government for not consulting devolved government in Scotland on the draft deal.Brexit Secretary Dominic Raab and Work and Pensions Secretary Esther McVey resigned from the Cabinet, saying they could not support the deal.Three junior ministers also resigned on Thursday.Sturgeon has been critical of Prime Minister Theresa May over lack of consultation on Brexit issues and negotiations with the EU, often saying Brexit will be an absolute catastrophe for Scottish economy.Scottish voters opted to remain in the U.K. as slightly more than 55 percent voted to stay in the U.K. in a 2014 referendum.In 2016 EU referendum, Scots voted to remain in the EU by 62 percent to 38 percent.
Brexit strengthens Scottish independence case: Sturgeon
British Prime Minister Theresa May told lawmakers on Thursday that their choice was clear: back her Brexit deal, leave with no deal, or have no Brexit at all."The choice is clear: We can choose to leave with no deal, we can risk no Brexit at all, or we can choose to unite and support the best deal that can be negotiated," May told parliament in a statement on Thursday.May said she shared the concerns of those who believe a Brexit backstop to avoid a border on the island of Ireland impinges on British sovereignty, but it was an improvement on previous proposals."The references to the backstop do raise some difficult issues," May told parliament."I fully accept that across the house, there are concerns in relation to the backstop. Indeed, I share some of those concerns," she said.French PM Philippe: We have to be ready for 'no-deal' BrexitBritain is still preparing for no-deal Brexit May said on Thursday the government was continuing to prepare for a no-deal Brexit after her draft divorce deal sparked a raft of ministerial resignations."We have been preparing for no-deal and we continue to prepare for no-deal because I recognise that we have a futher stage of negotiation with the European council and then that deal when finalised ... has to come back to this House," she told parliament.UK's Brexit Secretary Raab resigns thrusting May's government into turmoilBritain will leave the EU in March as plannedBritain will leave the European Union on March 29 and will not suspend the process of leaving, Prime Minister Theresa May said on Thursday, adding that it would meet its legal obligations on a financial settlement with the bloc."We will not extend Article 50," May told parliament, when asked about the clause in the EU's Lisbon Treaty which allows for countries to leave the bloc.EU summit to endorse Brexit deal to take place on Nov 25
UK PM May warns: It is my deal, no deal or no Brexit
British Brexit Secretary Dominic Raab resigned on Thursday thrusting Prime Minister Theresa May's government into turmoil after she clinched a Brexit deal that was mauled by opponents, allies and mutinous members of her party."I regret to say that, following the Cabinet meeting yesterday on the Brexit deal, I must resign," Raab said. May's plan threatened the integrity of the United Kingdom, he said."I cannot reconcile the terms of the proposed deal with the promises we made to the country in our manifesto at the last election. This is, at its heart, a matter of public trust."EU summit to endorse Brexit deal to take place on Nov 25European Union leaders will meet on Nov. 25 to endorse the divorce deal. May now faces the much more perilous struggle of getting parliament to approve the deal.British journalists said anger among Brexit-supporting Conservative lawmakers was so high that they might call for a vote of no confidence in her leadership. There was no confirmation.ITV reporter Robert Peston said enough demands for a no confidence vote could be lodged by lunchtime on Thursday.The ultimate outcome for the United Kingdom remains uncertain: scenarios range from a calm divorce to rejection of May's deal, potentially sinking her premiership and leaving the bloc with no agreement, or another referendumBritish junior minister quits May's governmentBritish PM May bets all on Brexit deal as opponents plot
UK's Brexit Secretary Raab resigns thrusting May's government into turmoil