'I'm not a quitter' says UK PM May, vowing to fight next election

By William James

 

Britain's Prime Minister Theresa May stands on the flight deck as she speaks to crew members of the British aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth, during her tour of the ship, after it arrived at Portsmouth Naval base, its new home port, in Portsmouth, Britain August 16, 2017. REUTERS/Ben Stansall/Pool/File Photo

 

KYOTO, Japan (Reuters) - Prime Minister Theresa May said she wanted to continue as Britain's leader beyond the next parliamentary election, not due until 2022, dismissing expectations she could stand down after Brexit as early as 2019.

 

May's authority has been badly damaged by a ill-judged election campaign earlier this year which cost her Conservative party its majority in parliament and failed to provide a clear mandate for her Brexit strategy.

 

After apologising for her election mistakes, May won a temporary reprieve, with many Conservative Party members afraid that ousting her could collapse a fragile minority government and let the leftist Labour Party into power.

 

While some Conservatives continue to see her as an interim leader being kept in place to deliver Brexit, May insisted that she had broader ambitions in office and had no plans to step down.

 

"I'm not a quitter," May said in an interview with ITV News during a visit to Japan.

 

Asked directly in a separate interview, with the BBC, whether she intended to fight the next election as leader of the Conservative Party she said:

 

"Yes ... I'm here for the long term and it's crucial, what me and my government are about is not just delivering on Brexit, we are delivering a brighter future for the United Kingdom."

 

The next national election is not scheduled until 2022, three years after Britain is due to leave the European Union.

 

(Reporting by William James; Editing by Alison Williams)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2017-08-31

25 minutes ago, webfact said:

"I'm not a quitter," May said in an interview

 

Normally, I applaud that stance.

 

However, in your case...

 

 

Edited August 30, 20178 yr by Samui Bodoh

I am not a quitter says May, i will fight in the next election.

Well myself and many others hope you dont, you are just an arrogant waste of space.

Now after saying that, i voted conservative all my life.

And of course, her party colleagues are all behind her........................

 

sharpening the knives!

I hope she does because then there will be a change of government.

Unless there's another quick election she'll be booted out by her own party who Don't accept losers easily.

6 hours ago, Samui Bodoh said:

 

Normally, I applaud that stance.

 

However, in your case...

 

 

Short and sweet and to the point