May to try to form government after election debacle, uncertainty over Brexit talks

[snoop1130]

May to try to form government after election debacle, uncertainty over Brexit talks

By Costas Pitas and Kylie MacLellan

 

Britain's Primer Minister Theresa May addresses the country after Britain's election at Downing Street in London, Britain June 9, 2017. REUTERS/Stefan Wermuth

 

British Prime Minister Theresa May will ask Queen Elizabeth for permission to form a government on Friday after an election debacle that saw her Conservative Party lose its parliamentary majority days before talks on Britain's EU departure are due to begin.

 

Confident of securing a sweeping victory, May had called the snap election to strengthen her hand in the European Union divorce talks. But in one of the most sensational nights in British electoral history, a resurgent Labour Party denied her an outright win, throwing the country into political turmoil as no clear winner emerged.

 

European Union leaders expressed fears that May's shock loss of her majority would delay the Brexit talks, due to begin on June 19, and so raise the risk of negotiations failing.

 

May's Labour rival Jeremy Corbyn, once written off by his opponents as a no-hoper, said May should step down and he wanted to form a minority government.

 

But May, facing scorn for running a lacklustre campaign, was determined to hang on. A spokesman for her office said she would go to Buckingham Palace to ask Queen Elizabeth for permission to form a government - a formality under the British system.

 

Sky News reported that Northern Ireland's Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) would back her, allowing the Conservatives to reach the 326 seats needed for a parliamentary majority. The DUP declined to comment.

 

With 649 of 650 seats declared, the Conservatives had won 318 seats and Labour 261.

 

The DUP, which took 10 seats, was considering an arrangement which would involve it supporting a Conservative minority government on key votes in parliament but not forming a formal coalition, Sky said.

 

"If ... the Conservative Party has won the most seats and probably the most votes then it will be incumbent on us to ensure that we have that period of stability and that is exactly what we will do," a grim-faced May said after winning her own parliamentary seat of Maidenhead, near London.

 

But with complex talks on Britain's divorce from the EU due to start in 10 days, it was unclear what their direction would now be and if the so-called "Hard Brexit" taking Britain out of a single market could still be pursued.

 

After winning his own seat in north London, Corbyn said May's attempt to win a bigger mandate had backfired.

 

"The mandate she's got is lost Conservative seats, lost votes, lost support and lost confidence," he said. "I would have thought that's enough to go, actually, and make way for a government that will be truly representative of all of the people of this country."

 

Chief among Labour's potential allies would be the Scottish National Party (SNP), which suffered major setbacks but still won a majority of Scottish seats.

 

BREXIT RISKS

 

"We need a government that can act," EU Budget Commissioner Guenther Oettinger told German broadcaster Deutschlandfunk. "With a weak negotiating partner, there's a danger that the (Brexit) negotiations will turn out badly for both sides."

 

The EU's chief negotiator said the bloc's stance on Brexit and the timetable for the talks were clear, but the divorce negotiations should only start when Britain is ready. "Let's put our minds together on striking a deal," Michel Barnier said.

 

But there was little sympathy from some other Europeans.

 

"Yet another own goal, after Cameron now May, will make already complex negotiations even more complicated," tweeted Guy Verhofstadt, the former Belgian premier who is the European Parliament's point man for the Brexit process.

 

May's predecessor David Cameron sought to silence Eurosceptic fellow Conservatives by calling the referendum on EU membership. The result ended his career and shocked Europe.

 

German conservative Markus Ferber, an EU lawmaker involved in discussions on access to EU markets for Britain's financial sector, was scathing.

 

"The British political system is in total disarray. Instead of strong and stable leadership we witness chaos and uncertainty," he said, mocking May's campaign slogan.

 

Sterling tumbled as much as 2.5 percent on the result while the FTSE share index opened higher. The pound hit an eight-week low against the dollar and its lowest levels in seven months versus the euro. GBP=D3 EURGBP=D3

 

"A working government is needed as soon as possible to avoid a further drop in the pound," said ING currency strategist Viraj Patel in London.

 

Craig Erlam, an analyst with brokerage Oanda in London, said a hung parliament was the worst outcome from a markets perspective.

 

"It creates another layer of uncertainty ahead of the Brexit negotiations and chips away at what is already a short timeline to secure a deal for Britain," he said.

 

"DREADFUL CAMPAIGN"

 

Conservative member of parliament Anna Soubry was the first in the party to disavow May in public, calling on the prime minister to "consider her position".

 

"I'm afraid we ran a pretty dreadful campaign," Soubry said.

 

May had unexpectedly called the snap election seven weeks ago, even though no vote was due until 2020. At that point, polls predicted she would massively increase the slim majority she had inherited from Cameron.

 

May had spent the campaign denouncing Corbyn as the weak leader of a spendthrift party that would crash Britain's economy and flounder in Brexit talks, while she would provide "strong and stable leadership" to clinch a good deal for Britain.

 

But her campaign unravelled after a policy u-turn on care for the elderly, while Corbyn's old-school socialist platform and more impassioned campaigning style won wider support than anyone had foreseen.

 

In the late stages of the campaign, Britain was hit by two Islamist militant attacks that killed 30 people in Manchester and London, temporarily shifting the focus onto security issues.

 

That did not help May, who in her previous role as interior minister for six years had overseen cuts in the number of police officers. She sought to deflect pressure onto Corbyn, arguing he had a weak record on security matters.

 

"What tonight is about is the rejection of Theresa May's version of extreme Brexit," said Keir Starmer, Labour's policy chief on Brexit, saying his party wanted to retain the benefits of the European single market and customs union.

 

Analysis suggested Labour had benefited from a strong turnout among young voters.

 

The campaign had played out differently in Scotland, the main faultline being the SNP's drive for a second referendum on independence from Britain, having lost a plebiscite in 2014.

 

SNP leader and First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said it had been a disappointing night for her party, which lost seats to the Conservatives, Labour and the Liberal Democrats.

 

Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson said Sturgeon should take the prospect of a new independence referendum off the table.

 

(Additional reporting by Guy Faulconbridge, Alistair Smout, David Milliken, Paul Sandle, William Schomberg, Andy Bruce, William James, Michael Urquhart and Paddy Graham in London, Padraic Halpin in Dublin, Writing by Angus MacSwan, Editing by Janet Lawrence)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2017-6-9

[kickstart]

I am surprised that she  is not limping bad right now,  she has certainly shot herself in the  foot ,made a compleat pig's ear of the  whole job.

Listening to Radio  4 this  morning,thay were saying that the  1922  back bench committee will meet next week, they are the  committee .that   sits to  elect the  leader of the party, they could be busy 

As for the pound and  the BREXIT what can one say, this pact with the DUP , well , let the dust  settle first , this time next week we will know more .

 

[elliss]

     Knifes  are  being   sharpened .  Boris  refuses to answer if he will support  May .

     My tuppence  worth ,  by  2018  she will  be  history  along with DC.  Next chancer,  who ?. 

Edited June 9, 2017 by elliss

[evadgib]

Davis!

[Basil B]

57 minutes ago, kickstart said:

I am surprised that she  is not limping bad right now,  she has certainly shot herself in the  foot ,made a compleat pig's ear of the  whole job.

Listening to Radio  4 this  morning,thay were saying that the  1922  back bench committee will meet next week, they are the  committee .that   sits to  elect the  leader of the party, they could be busy 

As for the pound and  the BREXIT what can one say, this pact with the DUP , well , let the dust  settle first , this time next week we will know more .

 

Sorry but I feel her pact with the DUP is like throwing a match into barrel of gunpowder, NI is already like a tinder box.

 

At best she will only be able to govern for for a few months before the wheels fall off.

[elliss]

9 hours ago, Basil B said:

Sorry but I feel her pact with the DUP is like throwing a match into barrel of gunpowder, NI is already like a tinder box.

 

At best she will only be able to govern for for a few months before the wheels fall off.

  That  about  sums it up, the only options  May  has is a  death wish.   So  humiliating, for the once upon a time Great Britain .    RIP.    Derry, I was there, in the seventies .

   

    

[nausea]

The opposition are going to have a field day - an alliance with an anti-abortionist, homophobic, climate change denying, party with several creationists among its senior members.

[pitrevie]

No question that the Conservatives should form the government they appear to have the majority in Parliament along with the DUP. Also no question that TM should not lead that government. Her appeal to the electorate failed miserably. I never liked Cameron but at least he had the dignity to go.

[AGareth2]

Disastrous campaign by May

[phutoie2]

Interesting to see how Maybot will handle the new Scottish Conservative MP's, their leader not being a fan of DUP policies.

 

[evadgib]

I foresee a new leader by day one of their party conf in Oct.

 

PR is a step closer after this debarcle; along with online voting regardless of geographic location or 15 year baloney.

 

Voting should be mandatory with a suitable option (Jedi?) for the non compliant.

 

 

 

Edited June 10, 2017 by evadgib

[Orac]

I foresee a new leader by day one of their party conf in Oct.
 
PR is a step closer after this debarcle; along with online voting regardless of geographic location or 15 year baloney.
 
 

Not sure about PR - neither Conservatives or Labour would gain from it and the Lib Dems and UKIP barely have a voice anymore.


Sent from my iPad using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app

[evadgib]

2 hours ago, phutoie2 said:

Interesting to see how Maybot will handle the new Scottish Conservative MP's, their leader not being a fan of DUP policies.

 

She is their leader!

[oxo1947]

Boris and Donald.....a cartoonist wet dream.........

[mfd101]

So many interesting surprises (at least from an antipodean perspective): (1) Tiresias May: she may be blind but she's no prophetess. (2) Crackpot Corbyn turns in a workmanlike performance & is rewarded accordingly - Good for him; (3) La Sturgeon clearly a bit on the nose, having lost umpteen seats including her vice-leader and her former leader; (4) the Tories picking up 13 seats in Scotland where they had had either 1 or none for decades ...

 

I wonder if there's an analysis of how the anti-Brexiteers of left-centre & right-centre voted. Not clear what their options were (though I guess the muddled equal approach of both Labour & Tories to Brexit fairly neutralized it as a voting issue this time round?). I was surprised at how much of London was coloured red on the Guardian map.

[Grouse]

39 minutes ago, Orac said:

 

Not sure about PR - neither Conservatives or Labour would gain from it and the Lib Dems and UKIP barely have a voice anymore.


Sent from my iPad using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app

 

 

 

	%	seats	PR seats
CON	42.45	318	276
LAB	39.99	262	260
SNP	3.04	35	20
LIB DEM	7.37	12	48
DUP	0.91	10	6
UKIP	1.84	0	12
GREEN	1.63	1	11
SINN FEIN	0.74	7	5
PLAID CYMRU	0.51	4	3
others	1.52	1	10
	100	650	651

 

Just look at PR!

 

(sorry for rounding error)

 

LAB coalition easy!

Edited June 10, 2017 by Grouse

[Orac]

 
 

	%	seats	PR seats
CON	42.45	318	276
LAB	39.99	262	260
SNP	3.04	35	20
LIB DEM	7.37	12	48
DUP	0.91	10	6
UKIP	1.84	0	12
GREEN	1.63	1	11
SINN FEIN	0.74	7	5
PLAID CYMRU	0.51	4	3
others	1.52	1	10
	100	650	651

 
Just look at PR!
 
(sorry for rounding error)
 
LAB coalition easy!

I would think Labour would expect to do even better in a future election so would be happy to keep to the current system. Also, a PR method would lead to a big resurgence in the UKIP vote since they wouldn't be 'wasted votes' as they are at the moment so neither main parties will touch PR with Farage lurking in the background.

[whatawonderfulday]

Well lets hope the Scottish conservatists, together with the SNP and Labour can gander enough support together with disaffected conservatives and not approve the Queen's speech.  A vote of no confidence will follow and then Labour should state that they will withdraw from Bexit, if possible and if elected.   That should bring out the wise young voters again to support remaining in Europe,  put to bed the UKIP and conservative extremists, and for the first time since 1975 provide a new start for the UK to prosper within the EU without having to pander to the US.  Yes we all know what that "US special relationship" is - ever since WW1 when the US were only too happy to lend money !!!!

[Grouse]

42 minutes ago, whatawonderfulday said:

Well lets hope the Scottish conservatists, together with the SNP and Labour can gander enough support together with disaffected conservatives and not approve the Queen's speech.  A vote of no confidence will follow and then Labour should state that they will withdraw from Bexit, if possible and if elected.   That should bring out the wise young voters again to support remaining in Europe,  put to bed the UKIP and conservative extremists, and for the first time since 1975 provide a new start for the UK to prosper within the EU without having to pander to the US.  Yes we all know what that "US special relationship" is - ever since WW1 when the US were only too happy to lend money !!!!

The DUP are certainly Conservative extremists!

 

These nutters are now going to be calling the shots

 

The IRA are going to really like that.....

 

 

Edited June 10, 2017 by Grouse

[superal]

I was not impressed with T. Mays campaign from the start when she refused to stand in an open debate with other candidates . And when asked by a nurse in a studio audience " why have nurses not had a pay rise for 7 years  " May gave a waffle about managing the countries budget and protecting the NHS ( forgetting that MPs had 10% rise 2 years ago and just topped up by another grand )  She did not have the guts for an open debate so what will she do when / if she negotiates the Brexit deal . She is a laughing stock at the moment within the EC . Her position now is weak and credibility lost .  Her body language and facial expressions are a give away along with her track record of u turns and lies . Making an alliance with the DUP is grasping at straws and a shambles . As mentioned by a previous post if there was another election I believe that Labour would win because unsure voters would see that the popularity of labour and JC had spiralled and not a wasted vote . Could it be that what May needs is a BJ   ( Boris Johnson that is )

[oxo1947]

I like their hat Grouse.................

.

.

English voters 2015: We won't be governed by Scotland!

English voters 2016: We won't be governed by Brussels!

 

English voters 2017: *Googling the DUP

[Basil B]

1 hour ago, Orac said:

Also, a PR method would lead to a big resurgence in the UKIP vote since they wouldn't be 'wasted votes' as they are at the moment

Same with the Liberal (LibDem) vote, always been down trodden with the wasted vote label,

 

Voting in the UK with the first past the post system leaves those who do not support either of the top two parties finding themselves voting tactically and not for the party of choice. 

[Basil B]

This government is so weak I give it only a few weeks until it calls another snap election.

 

The last count to declare Kensington, nether has had a Labour MP until now, that leaves Teresa with 318 Tory and 10 DUP MP's a majority of 2, saving grace is Sinn Fein who have 7 MP's do not take their seats at Westminster meaning the house will only have 643 sitting MP's therefore for Teresa will need 322 votes to pass any legislation, with one MP already facing prosecution that if found guilty will lead to his automatic exclusion and if John Bercow remains speaker of the house that will leave her with 326 MP's (including herself), a majority of 4.

 

Given there will be resignations, prosecutions, illnesses and deaths and the governing party does not fair well in by-elections I think by next year she will have no majority in the house.

[phutoie2]

2 hours ago, evadgib said:

She is their leader!

Ruth Davidson is the leader of the Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party. 

[dick dasterdly]

2 hours ago, Grouse said:

 

 

	%	seats	PR seats
CON	42.45	318	276
LAB	39.99	262	260
SNP	3.04	35	20
LIB DEM	7.37	12	48
DUP	0.91	10	6
UKIP	1.84	0	12
GREEN	1.63	1	11
SINN FEIN	0.74	7	5
PLAID CYMRU	0.51	4	3
others	1.52	1	10
	100	650	651

 

Just look at PR!

 

(sorry for rounding error)

 

LAB coalition easy!

I'm still at a loss as to why voters rejected PR .

[AGareth2]

6 minutes ago, dick dasterdly said:

I'm still at a loss as to why voters rejected PR .

there would be a coalition of chaos

[dick dasterdly]

31 minutes ago, Basil B said:

This government is so weak I give it only a few weeks until it calls another snap election.

 

The last count to declare Kensington, nether has had a Labour MP until now, that leaves Teresa with 318 Tory and 10 DUP MP's a majority of 2, saving grace is Sinn Fein who have 7 MP's do not take their seats at Westminster meaning the house will only have 643 sitting MP's therefore for Teresa will need 322 votes to pass any legislation, with one MP already facing prosecution that if found guilty will lead to his automatic exclusion and if John Bercow remains speaker of the house that will leave her with 326 MP's (including herself), a majority of 4.

 

Given there will be resignations, prosecutions, illnesses and deaths and the governing party does not fair well in by-elections I think by next year she will have no majority in the house.

Kensington voting Labour rather indicates that votes are partly along leave/remain lines.

 

I'll be interested to see whether there is a correlation between constituencies changing 'hands'  and the leave/remain vote in those areas.

 

Having said this, a good friend of mine in the UK voted Labour even though she supports 'leave'.  (A life-long Labour supporter and a party member - until Blair made it obvious that socialist no longer meant socialist....).

 

I've asked her the obvious questions, and will be interested to hear the answers.

[mfd101]

17 minutes ago, dick dasterdly said:

I'm still at a loss as to why voters rejected PR .

1st-past-the-post usually produces clear outcomes (ie a stable government with a clear majority) because it favours the big parties over the little ones. PR almost always produces coalition governments because - if properly designed (and there are no end of mathematically appropriate ways of doing it) because it reflects (or is supposed to) the pattern of voting across all parties ie it is 'fairer'.

 

Whether PR produces 'better' governments depends on your view of what 'better' would mean and on how the political culture adapts to produce sensible compromise outcomes.

 

All of which NZ discovered when it went to a complicated PR system a few years ago. As I said to my then FIL (in rather simplistic terms): Do you want fairness or do you want good government? 

[dick dasterdly]

8 minutes ago, mfd101 said:

1st-past-the-post usually produces clear outcomes (ie a stable government with a clear majority) because it favours the big parties over the little ones. PR almost always produces coalition governments because - if properly designed (and there are no end of mathematically appropriate ways of doing it) because it reflects (or is supposed to) the pattern of voting across all parties ie it is 'fairer'.

 

Whether PR produces 'better' governments depends on your view of what 'better' would mean and on how the political culture adapts to produce sensible compromise outcomes.

 

All of which NZ discovered when it went to a complicated PR system a few years ago. As I said to my then FIL (in rather simplistic terms): Do you want fairness or do you want good government? 

Fair enough I suppose - if you think governments elected on 'party/constituency' lines have been 'good' governments?

 

But I understand your point - coalition governments lead to pretty much nothing changing.

 

Edit - but it works pretty well for Germany?

 

 

Edited June 10, 2017 by dick dasterdly

[dunroaming]

Apparently there are books running on who will survive the longest.  May or Trump? Certainly May is under pressure to go but like Trump she will have to be carried out kicking and screaming!