Theresa May broke down in tears today as she read the last rites on her troubled premiership after bowing to a massive Tory mutiny over her Brexit plans.
Watched by husband Philip, the Prime Minister was overcome by emotion on the steps of Downing Street as she admitted her desperate struggle to get the UK out of the EU will end in failure.
‘I’ve done my best,’ she said. ‘I have done everything I can to convince MPs to back that deal … sadly I have not been able to do so.
‘It is and will always remain a matter of deep regret to me that I have not been able to deliver Brexit.’
Mrs May was almost unable to continue as she was overtaken by tears while voicing her pride at having served the country. She declared she will resign as Conservative leader on June 7, triggering a contest that should be complete by the end of July.
Singer D4vd arrested and held without bail in case tied to teen found dead in Tesla: Police
EXCLUSIVE: NYC officials refuse ICE hold for illegal alien accused in arson that killed 4 and injured 7: DHS
Jerome Powell Now Considering Move to Spite Trump: Report
Franklin Graham defends Trump in letter shared on Truth Social after AI ‘Jesus’ image backlash
Iranian Economy on the Brink: US Blockade Leaves Country with Weeks of Oil Production Left
Acting ICE Director Todd Lyons submits resignation letter to DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin
If You’ve Ever Thought Life Is Too Painful to Be Worth Living, This Piece Might Just Change Everything
Shouting match erupts between RFK Jr and Dem lawmaker over his comments about Black children
Hillary Clinton rips Trump on migrant child detentions, but Bill Clinton’s own record cuts deep
10 House Republicans Side with Democrats in Bid to Block Trump from Deporting Haitian Immigrants
Chuck Grassley, the longest-serving senator, hints at a ninth term
Federal agency approves Trump’s plan for triumphal arch ahead of America 250
FBI has received DNA data from Nancy Guthrie case: sources
Sailors injured after fire breaks out on aircraft carrier USS Eisenhower during shipyard maintenance
Missing general, scientist deaths tied to secret US work prompt White House probe
Mrs May said it had been the ‘honour of my life’ to be PM, and she hoped she would not be the last woman to lead the country. In a parting shot at the bitter Brexit divisions that have blighted her time in office, she urged MPs from all parties to remember that ‘compromise is not a dirty word’.
Having delivered her painful message, she then hurried back through the famous black No10 doors and was immediately whisked away via the back exit.
The dramatic move comes after Mrs May’s last-ditch effort to get her EU deal through the Commons backfired spectacularly. Tories were up in arms and the Cabinet mounted an open revolt after she offered MPs a vote on holding a second referendum and joining a temporary customs union with the EU.
The PM humiliatingly pulled her Withdrawal Agreement Bill – known as WAB – yesterday after seemingly accepting the inevitable.
Singer D4vd arrested and held without bail in case tied to teen found dead in Tesla: Police
EXCLUSIVE: NYC officials refuse ICE hold for illegal alien accused in arson that killed 4 and injured 7: DHS
Jerome Powell Now Considering Move to Spite Trump: Report
Franklin Graham defends Trump in letter shared on Truth Social after AI ‘Jesus’ image backlash
Iranian Economy on the Brink: US Blockade Leaves Country with Weeks of Oil Production Left
Acting ICE Director Todd Lyons submits resignation letter to DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin
If You’ve Ever Thought Life Is Too Painful to Be Worth Living, This Piece Might Just Change Everything
Shouting match erupts between RFK Jr and Dem lawmaker over his comments about Black children
Hillary Clinton rips Trump on migrant child detentions, but Bill Clinton’s own record cuts deep
10 House Republicans Side with Democrats in Bid to Block Trump from Deporting Haitian Immigrants
Chuck Grassley, the longest-serving senator, hints at a ninth term
Federal agency approves Trump’s plan for triumphal arch ahead of America 250
FBI has received DNA data from Nancy Guthrie case: sources
Sailors injured after fire breaks out on aircraft carrier USS Eisenhower during shipyard maintenance
Missing general, scientist deaths tied to secret US work prompt White House probe
Sir Graham Brady, the chair of the powerful Tory 1922 committee, met her in No10 this morning. He had been instructed by Tory backbenchers to enforce an exit date if Mrs May refused to volunteer one, with MPs threatening to change party rules to allow a fresh no-confidence vote.
Jeremy Corbyn immediately seized on the news to demand a general election, saying the Conservatives were ‘divided and disintegrating’.
But despite the brutal assault on her position from her own side, there was an outpouring of sympathy today after she finally fell on her sword.
Boris Johnson paid tribute to Mrs May’s ‘stoical service to our country’, urging politicians to ‘follow her urgings’ by ‘coming together to deliver Brexit’.
Andrea Leadsom, whose resignation as Commons Leader put the final nail in Mrs May’s political coffin, tweeted: ‘A very dignified speech by @theresa_may. An illustration of her total commitment to country and duty. She did her utmost, and I wish her all the very best.’
Prominent Tory Brexiteer Steve Baker, who strongly opposed the PM’s Brexit deal, tweeted: ‘Very dignified statement from Theresa May, beginning to set out the many things which she has achieved in office. This is a sad but necessary day.’
Singer D4vd arrested and held without bail in case tied to teen found dead in Tesla: Police
EXCLUSIVE: NYC officials refuse ICE hold for illegal alien accused in arson that killed 4 and injured 7: DHS
Jerome Powell Now Considering Move to Spite Trump: Report
Franklin Graham defends Trump in letter shared on Truth Social after AI ‘Jesus’ image backlash
Iranian Economy on the Brink: US Blockade Leaves Country with Weeks of Oil Production Left
Acting ICE Director Todd Lyons submits resignation letter to DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin
If You’ve Ever Thought Life Is Too Painful to Be Worth Living, This Piece Might Just Change Everything
Shouting match erupts between RFK Jr and Dem lawmaker over his comments about Black children
Hillary Clinton rips Trump on migrant child detentions, but Bill Clinton’s own record cuts deep
10 House Republicans Side with Democrats in Bid to Block Trump from Deporting Haitian Immigrants
Chuck Grassley, the longest-serving senator, hints at a ninth term
Federal agency approves Trump’s plan for triumphal arch ahead of America 250
FBI has received DNA data from Nancy Guthrie case: sources
Sailors injured after fire breaks out on aircraft carrier USS Eisenhower during shipyard maintenance
Missing general, scientist deaths tied to secret US work prompt White House probe
Environment Secretary Michael Gove tweeted: ‘A moving speech from a Prime Minister who deserves our respect and gratitude. Thank you @theresa_may.’
Story cited here.
