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12 December 2018

Theresa May survives vote of confidence in her leadership

The Prime Minister won more than half of all votes cast by Tory MPs, but considerable obstacles to passing a Brexit deal remain.

By Stephen Bush

Theresa May has survived a confidence vote in her leadership of the Conservative Party after winning more than half of all votes cast by Tory MPs.

There were 200 votes in favour and 117 against.

Under the terms of the Conservative constitution, there is now no formal means of removing May as party leader until 12 December 2019, when she can be challenged again. However, in her address to Tory MPs in parliament earlier this evening, the Prime Minister promised that she would not seek to lead the party into another general election.

There is, however, no provision to enforce that pledge should the Tory party find itself unexpectedly fighting an election again.

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