Theresa May Fighting For Survival

British Prime Minister Theresa May is fighting for her political life this morning. An election she called to strengthen her Brexit hand has instead delivered a severely decreased lead over the opposition Labour Party and a hung parliament: While the Conservatives will likely remain the biggest party, they will not be able to form a government on their own. Tom Watson, deputy Labour leader, said May “is a damaged PM, whose reputation may never recover.” The Telegraph’s Harry de Quetteville writes: “They must be cackling in Brussels. Can she even survive the next few hours?”

May could be forced out of Downing Street, and Brexit negotiations are likely to be delayed again, even as the two-year negotiation clock continues to tick.

The good news is that she is in no position to force through futher welfare cuts. Unpoular Bills can be sent back to the House of Commons to be voted on. The Parliament Act 1911 effectively abolished the power of the House of Lords to reject legislation, or to amend in a way unacceptable to the House of Commons: most bills could be delayed for no more than three parliamentary sessions or two calendar years. It was not meant to be a permanent solution; more comprehensive reforms were planned. Neither party, however, pursued the matter with much enthusiasm, and the House of Lords remained primarily hereditary. In 1949, the Parliament Act reduced the delaying power of the House of Lords further to two sessions or one year.

Legislation can be sent back to be voted on without a Conservative majority in the Lords.  The influential Bog Group, a Conservative Think Tank has called for Theresa May to stand down.

ABC Comment: The Cabinet Manual is a government document in the United Kingdom which sets out the main laws, rules and conventions affecting the conduct and operation of theGovernment of the United Kingdom. 

Image: The Cabinet Manual