By CCN: British politics is turning into a Game of Thrones massacre as vicious power battles are set to force Prime Minister Theresa May off her Iron Throne. May is widely expected to resign on Friday as her Brexit strategy descends into shambolic chaos.
May was seen leaving her Downing Street office last night in tears after a day of fatal blows to her position as leader. As support for her latest Brexit deal crumbles, a senior cabinet minister stabbed her in the back by resigning in anger.
More than two years after UK voters elected to leave the European Union, May has failed to deliver a solution. The shambolic clusterf**k has plunged her own party into civil war, triggered thousands of job losses, and hurt the British people.
Theresa May arrives back at 10 Downing Street this evening.#TheresaMayResignpic.twitter.com/lUXMTfmJrl
— James Melville (@JamesMelville) May 22, 2019
Theresa May: another failed Brexit plan
Earlier this week, Theresa May outlined her fourth Brexit withdrawal bill, this time offering MPs a vote on a second referendum. The bill was resoundingly criticized by her own Conservative party and the opposition.
With great reluctance I backed MV3. Now we are being asked to vote for a customs union and a second referendum. The Bill is directly against our manifesto – and I will not vote for it. We can and must do better – and deliver what the people voted for.
— Boris Johnson (@BorisJohnson) May 21, 2019
Members of her own cabinet, including potential Prime Minister-in-waiting Boris Johnson, said there’s no way they would vote for it. Theresa May has brought three previous Brexit deals before Parliament. The first was shot down by the largest majority in parliamentary history and the others were rejected.
“This can’t go on, it’s not in the national interest” – former minister Steve Baker says the “centre of the Conservative Party” has turned against Theresa Mayhttps://t.co/2kDdzyDiwj pic.twitter.com/9VGQtKQOsn
— BBC Politics (@BBCPolitics) May 22, 2019
High-profile cabinet minister delivers coup de grace
May’s tenuous position was confirmed last as Leader of the House of Commons Andrea Leadsom resigned her cabinet position.
In her resignation letter, Leadsom said she could no longer tolerate cabinet infighting and that she does not “believe we will be a truly sovereign United Kingdom through the deal that is now proposed.”
It is with great regret and a heavy heart that I have decided to resign from the Government. pic.twitter.com/f2SOXkaqmH
— Andrea Leadsom MP (@andrealeadsom) May 22, 2019
Ironically, Leadsom handed Theresa May the keys to Number Ten when she pulled of the Conservative party leadership race in 2016. Her resignation yesterday will likely be the trigger for May’s downfall.
.@andrealeadsom will be seen by history to have delivered the coup de grace to @theresa_may – which is appropriate some would say because it was her withdrawal from leadership race that handed 10 Downing St to May on a plate. Revenge dish best served steaming hot perhaps
— Robert Peston (@Peston) May 22, 2019
A Game of Thrones for Theresa May
With Theresa May ready to resign, who is set to take her place? The favorite is former foreign secretary and architect of the original Brexit campaign Boris Johnson. The man is a controversial figure prone to idiotic comments and thinly-veiled racism.
Others vying for the Iron Throne include former Brexit secretary Dominic Raab, a staunch right-winger in the party. And Michael Gove who has deviously wormed his way into a leadership contest in the past.
Outgoing cabinet member Andrea Leadsom is also in contention, alongside Sajid Javid and Jeremy Hunt.
Former Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson is favourite to become the next British Prime Minister. Source: Edinburgh Evening News
European elections pile on the pressure
The timing is awkward for Theresa May. The British people will go to the polls today to vote in the European Parliament elections. It’s an election that Brexiters hoped they would never have to participate in again.
All signs point to a huge blow for May’s Conservative party. Voters are widely expected to turn out in huge numbers for the “Brexit Party” instead. Latest polling puts the Conservative Party in fourth place with 12.9 percent of the anticipated vote.
New Kantar European elections poll.
Four-point lead for the Brexit Party.
Brexit Party (27.4%)
Labour (23.5%)
Liberal Democrats (14.5%)
Conservatives (12.9%)
Greens (7.7%)
Change UK (5.4%)
Others inc. SNP/PC and UKIP (8.7%)Fieldwork: 14th – 21st May 2019.
— Adam Bienkov (@AdamBienkov) May 22, 2019
