File photo: British Prime Minister Theresa May
British Prime Minister Theresa May threatened rebel lawmakers in her Conservative Party with a general election this summer if they defeated her Brexit plans on customs, The Times newspaper reported.
In one of the most tumultuous periods in recent British political history, there have been four major elections in the past four years: the Scottish independence referendum of 2014, the 2015 UK election, the Brexit referendum of 2016 and the snap election called by May last year.
U.K. Prime Minister Theresa May on Monday called for an action against aggressions made by Russia.In a statement to parliament regarding a recent NATO summit, May stressed the Alliance's collective responsibility in combating Russian aggression, whether it be through military incursions, assassinations through chemical poisoning or cyberwarfare.US lawmakers slam Trump as 'weak' in Russia summit“The appalling use of a nerve agent in Salisbury is another example of Russia’s growing disregard for the global norms and laws that keep us all safe,” she said.“We will struggle against Russia as long as it insists on its efforts to weaken our interests and values.”The U.K.’s relationship with Russia has reached new lows after London accused Moscow of being behind the chemical attack in Salisbury that targeted former Soviet spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter, Yulia, with the chemical agent Novichok in March this year.Trump, Putin hail progress in mending strained tiesEarlier this month in Amesbury, a town seven miles from Salisbury, a couple were poisoned by the same chemical agent. One of them, Dawn Sturgess later passed away.On March 4, former Russian spy Sergei Skripal, 66, and his daughter Yulia were admitted to hospital after being found unconscious in Salisbury.NATO and the EU supported the U.K. and condemned the attack.Sergei and Yulia Skripal have since been discharged from Salisbury District Hospital.
UK premier calls for action against Russian aggression
The Times said that Conservative whips, who enforce discipline in the party, issued the warning to pro-EU lawmakers, led by the former ministers Stephen Hammond and Nicky Morgan, minutes before a crucial vote on Tuesday on customs.
May narrowly avoided a defeat in parliament at the hands of the pro-EU lawmakers from her own party in the vote.
Parliament voted 307 to 301 against an amendment to trade legislation that would have required the government to try to negotiate a customs union arrangement with the EU if, by Jan. 21, 2019, it had failed to negotiate a frictionless free trade deal with the bloc.