UK PM May's party slumps to fifth place as pressure mounts for her to go

By Guy Faulconbridge

 

Britain's Prime Minister Theresa May leaves church, as Brexit turmoil continues, in Sonning, Britain, May 12, 2019. REUTERS/Simon Dawson

 

LONDON (Reuters) - British Prime Minister Theresa May's Conservatives have fallen to fifth place in an opinion poll ahead of the May 23 European parliamentary election as pressure grows for her to set a date for her own departure.

 

Nigel Farage's Brexit Party was in the lead, up four percentage points, on 34% while May's Conservative Party had just 10%, the YouGov poll for the Times newspaper showed. The opposition Labour Party was down five points on 16%.

 

Two parties which support staying in the EU, the Liberal Democrats and the Greens, were on 15% and 11% respectively.

 

The collapse in support for the Conservative Party is piling pressure on May to set a date for her departure. Senior Conservatives want May to set out her plans this week.

 

Nearly three years since the United Kingdom voted 52% to 48% to leave the European Union, there is still no agreement among British politicians about when, how or even if the divorce should take place.

 

"The reason I am back today doing what I am doing is because frankly we've been betrayed by our career political class," Farage told TalkRadio.

"If the Brexit Party comes out on top in a couple of weeks time, we must have a place at the negotiating table with the government to help put together our strategy."

 

Britain was due to have left the European Union on March 29, though May has been unable to get her divorce deal approved by parliament so she has turned to the Labour Party, led by socialist Jeremy Corbyn, in a bid to court his support.

 

Labour's Brexit pointman, Keir Starmer, told The Guardian newspaper that any cross-party deal lacking a confirmatory referendum would not pass parliament as about 150 Labour lawmakers would oppose such a deal.

 

MAY CLARITY

May, who secured the leadership in the chaos that followed Britain's 2016 vote to leave the European Union, has promised to step down if lawmakers back the deal she struck with Brussels to leave the bloc.

 

But the prime minister has lost heavily on three attempts to get it through parliament.

 

Graham Brady, chairman of the 1922 Committee, which can make or break party leaders, said that May had been asked to give "clarity" about her future at a meeting this week.

 

The new deadline for leaving the EU is Oct. 31 though many Brexit supporters fear that the whole divorce could be derailed.

 

"We are at real risk of sleepwalking into remaining in the EU," Brexit Secretary Steven Barclay wrote in the Sun newspaper.

 

"That is why I believe that it would be inexcusable for the Government to not use the coming months to continue to prepare for the real risk we leave the EU without a deal."

 

He later wrote in Twitter that in a choice between a no-deal exit or staying in the EU, he would vote to leave without agreement.

 

(Reporting by Guy Faulconbridge; editing by Michael Holden and Angus MacSwan)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2019-05-14

Follow Thaivisa on LINE for breaking Thailand news and visa info

Theresa Tenpercent. Strong and Stable. Innit.

The YouGov poll for the Times newspaper showed:

 

Nigel Farage's Brexit Party on 34% 
Jeremy Corbyn's Labour Party  on 16%
Theresa May's Conservative Party on just 10%

 

No wonder the 2nd referendum supporters have gone quiet.

15 minutes ago, nauseus said:

Theresa Tenpercent. Strong and Stable. Innit.

Strong and Stable like a concrete wall.

11 minutes ago, Topdoc said:

The YouGov poll for the Times newspaper showed:

 

Nigel Farage's Brexit Party on 34% 
Jeremy Corbyn's Labour Party  on 16%
Theresa May's Conservative Party on just 10%

 

No wonder the 2nd referendum supporters have gone quiet.

2nd referendum supporters have not gone quiet. Maybe you see only the one side you want to see...

Time for May to go and be replaced by a Leaver.

 

10% of the vote is shocking, but possibly not as shocking as Change UK (who paradoxically want everything to stay the same) only getting 3%. The chumps who set up that party must be wishing they'd stayed where they were and honoured the democratic vote.

 

It makes you wonder where all the Leavers we hear about who have suddenly changed their mind to Remain have gone. Perhaps these are the real unicorns of Brexit, I've certainly never met one. In fact, it makes you wonder where all these Remainers we heard about have gone. Too busy marching and signing online petitions to vote? 

I don't think that these figures represent anything, The european parliament elections have always been a low priority for the UK public, that Farage has a lot of votes boils down to the fear of brexiteers having to remain in the EU and so they come out in force, the silent majority, whether for or against, will vote when the elections for a UK parliament come around. It is rather like the French elections, two are held, the first round of votes are always protest votes so that the communists or Le Pen come out on top but the second round, which really counts, always gives the mainstream parties the winning votes.  

It's always interesting to see reactions to numbers.

For some people it's a clear sign to leave the EU ASAP.

Others see the opposite.

I saw very few articles or comments describing the actual problem with different people with very different views.

It must be interesting to live in echo chambers.

1 minute ago, soalbundy said:

I don't think that these figures represent anything, The european parliament elections have always been a low priority for the UK public, that Farage has a lot of votes boils down to the fear of brexiteers having to remain in the EU and so they come out in force, the silent majority, whether for or against, will vote when the elections for a UK parliament come around. It is rather like the French elections, two are held, the first round of votes are always protest votes so that the communists or Le Pen come out on top but the second round, which really counts, always gives the mainstream parties the winning votes.  

I think that you underestimate this situation, which is exceptional and unique in recent history. The British majority, who voted leave in the referendum, are now so disenchanted with both of the main parties that the coming EU Parliament vote is also likely to be replicated to a large degree in the next GE. This degree of protest will probably depend on when the next GE actually happens, as well as future political events in the EU and the UK. There is no real comparison to French elections in this case.  

1 hour ago, Topdoc said:

The YouGov poll for the Times newspaper showed:

 

Nigel Farage's Brexit Party on 34% 
Jeremy Corbyn's Labour Party  on 16%
Theresa May's Conservative Party on just 10%

 

No wonder the 2nd referendum supporters have gone quiet.

Not really. It would still be advisable, but a no-deal push by Farage would see parliament rejecting that, and we're back to square one. I, for one, wouldn't want the UK to leave without a clear plan to make it successful - and the government  - and Farage - is a long way from even having an embryo plan which would benefit the populace of the UK. 

 

Why?

 

Several reasons, the critical one of which is because the UK import c.80% of the goods it needs, which includes c.20% parts made elsewhere that are assembled in the UK. To think that it's a piece of cake to destroy our current trade deals in the blue-sky thinking that these can be readily replaced, is nonsensical and for all practical purposes, impossible in a short/medium timeframe of 1-3 years.

 

The ramifications of that bring about: stockpiling, rationing, loss of jobs, and businesses moving outside the UK. Even Dyson, who is a rabid Brexiteer, is relocating his UK business to Singapore. 

 

Other major disadvantages which have been aired on here many times have not been addressed by the government, albeit they've had  3 years to come up with a clear way forward. That Farage obviously wants to speed up the process and is getting leavers voters backing, is a result of government and opposition incompetence. 

 

Finally, it's all very well to leave but what happens then? No-one has any idea how to make it successful. No-one.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The YouGov poll for the Times newspaper showed:
 
Nigel Farage's Brexit Party on 34% 
Jeremy Corbyn's Labour Party  on 16%
Theresa May's Conservative Party on just 10%
 
No wonder the 2nd referendum supporters have gone quiet.

Add together the votes for the Lib Dems, SNP, PC, Greens, Change UK and Labour and you have the Remain vote. I'm confident it will be higher than the Brexit Party, Tories and UKIP.

Sent from my SM-G930F using Tapatalk

1 hour ago, OneMoreFarang said:

2nd referendum supporters have not gone quiet. Maybe you see only the one side you want to see...

You are wrong. They have indeed gone quiet. Very quiet.

2 hours ago, soalbundy said:

that Farage has a lot of votes boils down to the fear of brexiteers having to remain in the EU and so they come out in force

It's a poll. The actual voting is on 23rd May. How do you 'come out in force' for a poll?

 

9 minutes ago, Topdoc said:

It's a poll. The actual voting is on 23rd May. How do you 'come out in force' for a poll?

 

Absolutely correct. The only thing that counts is the Vote, the one in 2016 that was 51.9% Leave. 

 

People will see the reality of the extent of Brexit support after the European elections when The Brexit Party cleans up. Of course all the votes for The Brexit Party will subsequently be deemed irrelevant by Remainers since they are more intelligent and more educated, they know better, they know that everyone has actually changed their minds and now agrees with them  ????????????.

53 minutes ago, Topdoc said:

It's a poll. The actual voting is on 23rd May. How do you 'come out in force' for a poll?

 

I think the “actual” voting would be the next GE (or a referendum). That’s where parties can get a majority for the way they want to deal with Brexit, whether it’s a no-deal, a referendum, to remain,... Even if Farage won the EU election by 100% it wouldn’t give him any seats in the UK parliament. 

Edited May 14, 20197 yr by welovesundaysatspace

May Day will be a public holiday in the UK?????

1 hour ago, Topdoc said:

It's a poll. The actual voting is on 23rd May. How do you 'come out in force' for a poll?

 

Because that is part of the poll 'will you go out and vote'.

3 hours ago, brewsterbudgen said:

Add together the votes for the Lib Dems, SNP, PC, Greens, Change UK and Labour and you have the Remain vote. I'm confident it will be higher than the Brexit Party, Tories and UKIP.

Sent from my SM-G930F using Tapatalk
 

To be fair, you should count the Labour voters as "Don't Knows"... ????

 

But by next week they probably will be an insignificant single digit % number, only just above the tories.

 

Edited May 14, 20197 yr by Basil B

5 hours ago, Topdoc said:

The YouGov poll for the Times newspaper showed:

 

Nigel Farage's Brexit Party on 34% 
Jeremy Corbyn's Labour Party  on 16%
Theresa May's Conservative Party on just 10%

 

No wonder the 2nd referendum supporters have gone quiet.

No it was those calling for a General Election who have gone quiet... 

1 hour ago, Basil B said:

No it was those calling for a General Election who have gone quiet... 

Corbyn and his commie mates know they will be out on their <deleted> if a GE was somehow to be called now. Same applies to the turncoat Remainer Tories too. There would be about 500 professional politicians looking for local authority or quango jobs. What real world skills and experience could they bring to a job and who would employ a disgraced MP? 

7 hours ago, Topdoc said:

The YouGov poll for the Times newspaper showed:

 

Nigel Farage's Brexit Party on 34% 
Jeremy Corbyn's Labour Party  on 16%
Theresa May's Conservative Party on just 10%

 

No wonder the 2nd referendum supporters have gone quiet.

 

You missed out the pro Remain LibDems on 15% and the Greens on 11%.

 

Not doubt a clerical mistake!

7 hours ago, nauseus said:

I think that you underestimate this situation, which is exceptional and unique in recent history. The British majority, who voted leave in the referendum, are now so disenchanted with both of the main parties that the coming EU Parliament vote is also likely to be replicated to a large degree in the next GE. This degree of protest will probably depend on when the next GE actually happens, as well as future political events in the EU and the UK. There is no real comparison to French elections in this case.  

 

Voting for Farage's Mickey Mouse "Brexit" one trick pony party in the EU elections is one thing. Many (most? Brits have never bothered much with the EU Parliament and it's MEP elections. But they'll possibly see this as a chance to kick the main parties up the arse.

 

However a GE is a different animal. May fought her last GE on one issue, Brexit. And paid the price. Farage and his mob have no policies on anything, no manifesto, and no clue what to do should the UK eventually leave the EU with or without a deal. Most Brits won't vote them into parliament unless that changes. A bit like how local elections are used to send sharp messages to the big parties. 

3 hours ago, welovesundaysatspace said:

I think the “actual” voting would be the next GE (or a referendum). That’s where parties can get a majority for the way they want to deal with Brexit, whether it’s a no-deal, a referendum, to remain,... Even if Farage won the EU election by 100% it wouldn’t give him any seats in the UK parliament. 

 

Farage is mouthing off that a good / significant result in the EU elections and the government must give him a seat at the negotiating table.

 

His usual arrogant rubbish! 

 

He and any of his cronies that are elected must attend the EUP and carry out their duties. He has no representation in the UK parliament, regardless of how his party does in the EU elections, and is no more entitled than any other citizen.

 

His contempt and / or ignorance of UK constitutional law, parliamentary process and procedure is worse than May's.

 

He's what used to be called a "spiv or cowboy" in the UK. Someone who does a shoddy job and makes things up as they go along!

35 minutes ago, Baerboxer said:

 

Voting for Farage's Mickey Mouse "Brexit" one trick pony party in the EU elections is one thing. Many (most? Brits have never bothered much with the EU Parliament and it's MEP elections. But they'll possibly see this as a chance to kick the main parties up the arse.

 

However a GE is a different animal. May fought her last GE on one issue, Brexit. And paid the price. Farage and his mob have no policies on anything, no manifesto, and no clue what to do should the UK eventually leave the EU with or without a deal. Most Brits won't vote them into parliament unless that changes. A bit like how local elections are used to send sharp messages to the big parties. 

Yes, a different animal but so is the whole British political scene right now. If the Brexit Party is successful in the EU vote and if there is a GE, then I would expect the BP to write a manifesto and party policies that will be developed and published, so that people can decide if they want to break the two-party tradition at last.

34 minutes ago, Baerboxer said:

 

Farage is mouthing off that a good / significant result in the EU elections and the government must give him a seat at the negotiating table.

 

His usual arrogant rubbish! 

 

He and any of his cronies that are elected must attend the EUP and carry out their duties. He has no representation in the UK parliament, regardless of how his party does in the EU elections, and is no more entitled than any other citizen.

 

His contempt and / or ignorance of UK constitutional law, parliamentary process and procedure is worse than May's.

 

He's what used to be called a "spiv or cowboy" in the UK. Someone who does a shoddy job and makes things up as they go along!

And how would you describe our present leading lights? 

No it was those calling for a General Election who have gone quiet... 

That would still lead to a Labour government although it would need to form a coalition with other Remain parties. The Tories would be finished [emoji1]

Sent from my SM-G930F using Tapatalk

Meanwhile Alexander Boris (man of the people) de Pfefl Johnson, the front runner to replace Theresa May, has made it known that ‘he will not be bound by any customs union deal with Labour’.

 

In running his mouth he’s told Labour not to bother backing any deal.

 

Time to ditch the Brexit mess he played a part conning the nation into.

Edited May 14, 20197 yr by Chomper Higgot

9 hours ago, JonnyF said:

Time for May to go and be replaced by a Leaver.

 

10% of the vote is shocking, but possibly not as shocking as Change UK (who paradoxically want everything to stay the same) only getting 3%. The chumps who set up that party must be wishing they'd stayed where they were and honoured the democratic vote.

 

It makes you wonder where all the Leavers we hear about who have suddenly changed their mind to Remain have gone. Perhaps these are the real unicorns of Brexit, I've certainly never met one. In fact, it makes you wonder where all these Remainers we heard about have gone. Too busy marching and signing online petitions to vote? 

lib dems are 100% for remaining,take a look at how they performed a few weeks ago,you will find thats where the remain voters are,not some poll of 1000 folks taken outside a spoonies.

What we're really seeing regarding voting intentions is that, despite protestations to the contrary, the majority of Tory voters stand somewhere between middle right and Far right.  It's so frustrating that neither the Government nor its supporters will openly follow the course that fits their principles.

 

As a Labour supporter who thinks Brexit is a mistake even I just want them to get on with it.  The lesson is that regardless of its policies, and it's political doctrine, it is vital in the UK that a government has conviction, integrity and strength.