UK PM May narrowly survives no-trust vote after Brexit loss
Promises to return to Parliament on Monday with ‘alternative Brexit strategy’
London: Beleaguered British Prime Minister Theresa May has appealed to Opposition leaders to "put self-interest aside" and work with her to secure a new Brexit deal after she narrowly survived a no-confidence vote, a day after her divisive divorce agreement with the EU was overwhelmingly rejected by MPs.
The prime minister won Parliament's first no-confidence vote in a British government in 26 years by 325 votes to 306, a majority of 19, on Wednesday.
Speaking outside 10 Downing Street after emerging victorious, 62-year-old May said her government has won the confidence of Parliament.
This now gives "us all the opportunity to focus on finding a way forward on Brexit", she said. Britain is set to exit the 28-member EU, which it joined in 1973, on March 29. With just over two months to go until the scheduled departure on March 29, Britain is still undecided on what to do.
May promised to return to Parliament on Monday with an alternative Brexit strategy devised through talks with the opposition.
"Overwhelmingly, the British people want us to get on with delivering Brexit, and also address the other important issues they care about," the Conservative leader said.
She called on opposition lawmakers to "put self-interest aside" and "work constructively together" with her to secure a Brexit deal. "It will not be an easy task, but MPs know they have a duty to act in the national interest, reach a consensus and get this done," she said.
"Now MPs have made it clear what they don't want, we must all work constructively together to set out what Parliament does want.
May said she believes it was her duty to deliver on the British people's instruction to leave the European Union (EU). "And I intend to do so," May said.
Earlier, Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn argued that May's "zombie" administration had lost the right to govern during a six hour passionate debate in the House of Commons on his motion. His party has not ruled out tabling further no-confidence motions.
Corbyn has made it clear that before any "positive discussions" can take place, the prime minister should rule out a no-deal Brexit.
After her victory, May told MPs that she would "continue to work to deliver on the solemn promise to the people of this country to deliver on the result of the referendum and leave the European Union".
