# The Theresa May (UK PM) survival thread **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [December 12, 2018, 11:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-theresa-may-uk-pm-survival-thread/825989 "2018-12-12T11:21:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![PastTense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pasttense/32/14550_2.png) [@PastTense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PastTense)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2018, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-theresa-may-uk-pm-survival-thread/825989/41 "2018-12-12T22:20:03Z")
> [@Baron\_Greenback](#): > > She wins 200 - 117. What that means politically is anyone’s guess. It was less than a month ago the Rees-Mogg and others tried to get a vote of confidence voted on–but they couldn’t get the 48 votes needed. Now they have 117 no votes–about 70 more negative reactions than then. So I think the mood is turning rapidly against her. ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2018, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-theresa-may-uk-pm-survival-thread/825989/42 "2018-12-12T22:35:14Z")
The trouble is that the Tory party rules say that May cannot be subject to another vote for a year. ---
**Author:** ![Baron\_Greenback](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baron_greenback/32/48_2.png) [@Baron\_Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Greenback)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2018, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-theresa-may-uk-pm-survival-thread/825989/43 "2018-12-12T22:51:05Z")
> [@PastTense](#): > > It was less than a month ago the Rees-Mogg and others tried to get a vote of confidence voted on–but they couldn’t get the 48 votes needed. Now they have 117 no votes–about 70 more negative reactions than then. So I think the mood is turning rapidly against her. Yeah. It doesn’t bode well for getting the Withdrawal Agreement approved, like, ever. Interesting times. ---
**Author:** ![Mk\_VII](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Mk\_VII](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mk_VII)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2018, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-theresa-may-uk-pm-survival-thread/825989/44 "2018-12-12T23:53:30Z")
> [@Quartz](#): > > The trouble is that the Tory party rules say that May cannot be subject to another vote for a year. That doen’t apply to a confidence vote in the House (which this was not). Which could still happen. Refusal to pass the Budget amounts to the same as a confidence vote. ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2018, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-theresa-may-uk-pm-survival-thread/825989/45 "2018-12-12T23:54:23Z")
Excellent point. ---
**Author:** ![UDS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ecae2f/32.png) [@UDS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UDS)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2018, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-theresa-may-uk-pm-survival-thread/825989/46 "2018-12-13T01:28:55Z")
> [@Quartz](#): > > Just a thought, but the vote is quite sudden and I wonder how many Tory MPs won’t be able to cast their votes because they are unable to get there? I’m thinking in particular of Scottish MPs, who are likely to vote against May. But there must also be MPs who are abroad. Parliament is sitting, and furthermore _was_ scheduled to be holding a vote of huge significance round about now. So any MP who isn’tg near death, or detained on very important business, will be around. But there are arrangements for MPs who aren’t physically present to vote by proxy; they need to communicate with the Chairman of the 1922 Committee to nominate another MP to vote by proxy on their behalf. As we now know, 317 votes were cast. That’s the entire Tory membership of the House of Commons, I think. ---
**Author:** ![nightshadea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/7ba0ec/32.png) [@nightshadea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nightshadea)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2018, 2:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-theresa-may-uk-pm-survival-thread/825989/47 "2018-12-13T02:11:25Z")
I think yall need a new election on Brexit and general…… and not elect some of the same clowns ……… ---
**Author:** ![Mr\_Shine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mr_shine/32/464_2.png) [@Mr\_Shine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr_Shine)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2018, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-theresa-may-uk-pm-survival-thread/825989/48 "2018-12-13T02:13:56Z")
> [@nightshadea](#): > > I think yall need a new election on Brexit and general…… and not elect some of the same clowns ……… Thanks for these words of wisdom from a clearly well-informed person who has given the matter serious thought. ---
**Author:** ![AK84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85e7bf/32.png) [@AK84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AK84)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2018, 4:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-theresa-may-uk-pm-survival-thread/825989/49 "2018-12-13T04:59:10Z")
159 votes were needed to throw her out. They got 117. She was saved by 42 votes. This is at least 50 more votes than what ERG has. ---
**Author:** ![UDS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ecae2f/32.png) [@UDS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UDS)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2018, 5:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-theresa-may-uk-pm-survival-thread/825989/50 "2018-12-13T05:31:35Z")
> [@AK84](#): > > 159 votes were needed to throw her out. They got 117. She was saved by 42 votes. > This is at least 50 more votes than what ERG has. Yes but, hey, it’s a bigger majority than Brexit got. Or Trump. A win’s a win. The price of winning was a fairly strong signal that she won’t be around to lead the party into the next election (due in 2022). So I think she’s going to interpret this as a mandate to Bring Brexit Home. And her capacity to do so is now slightly strengthened, since she is insulated from a direct challenge for the next 12 months. Sure, she could still fail to get her deal through Parliament. But, if we rule out one of the three possible ends to this story (Brexit on the terms of May’s deal) there are only two possible endings left - no-deal Brexit, or cancellation of Brexit. And I don’t think there’s a majority for no-deal Brexit either in Parliament or in the country. ---
**Author:** ![Malden\_Capell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/malden_capell/32/5274_2.png) [@Malden\_Capell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malden_Capell)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2018, 7:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-theresa-may-uk-pm-survival-thread/825989/51 "2018-12-13T07:48:58Z")
A win’s a win, but I saw Rees-Mogg calling it ‘narrow’ and saying May should tender her resignation. It’s a larger margin than what Brexit ‘won’ by, mate. I saw Quartz earlier insisted they needed someone who truly believed in Brexit to make it work. I honestly can’t see who a ‘true believer’ would have achieved differently, especially as May has spent two years insulting Remainers and being cheered by Brexiters for nearly every move she made…until chequers, when her Brexiter-backed red lines ran up against reality. And a true statesmen, Quartz, that sought to unite the country would have offered a compromise Brexit like EEA membership. This Brexit before us is the hardest Brexit that actually constitutes an agreement with the EU. Sorry to burst your bubble. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk ---
**Author:** ![AK84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85e7bf/32.png) [@AK84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AK84)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2018, 7:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-theresa-may-uk-pm-survival-thread/825989/52 "2018-12-13T07:56:15Z")
Everyones just waking up. Lets see how the effect is. I am not entirely sure its suirvival for May. and I think she has been weakened further. 71 votes beyond what was the threshold is **not** a thumping vote of confidence. How much did Major get in 1995? ---
**Author:** ![Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kolak_of_twilo/32/73_2.png) [@Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kolak_of_Twilo)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2018, 9:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-theresa-may-uk-pm-survival-thread/825989/53 "2018-12-13T09:13:13Z")
> [@AK84](#): > > Everyones just waking up. Lets see how the effect is. I am not entirely sure its suirvival for May. and I think she has been weakened further. 71 votes beyond what was the threshold is **not** a thumping vote of confidence. > How much did Major get in 1995? IF I understand what you asked and IF my calculations are even close to correct it looks to me that Major got 89 votes beyond the threshold to which you refer. [Here](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1995_Conservative_Party_(UK)_leadership_election). ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2018, 9:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-theresa-may-uk-pm-survival-thread/825989/54 "2018-12-13T09:28:21Z")
> [@Malden\_Capell](#): > > I saw Quartz earlier insisted they needed someone who truly believed in Brexit to make it work. Why do you insist on misrepresenting me? I said: > [@](#): > > I disagree. It was a golden opportunity for a good leader. She could have been a new Atlee, forging a new United Kingdom. Nothing about being a true believer. Just a good leader. You know, like Atlee and Thatcher. > [@](#): > > And a true statesmen, Quartz, that sought to unite the country True statesmen lead, and I think we’re both in agreement that May isn’t a true stateswoman. > [@](#): > > would have offered a compromise Brexit like EEA membership. I must disagree. Look at Thatcher. Like her or loathe her, she had a vision and she implemented it. It’s not a question of uniting the country but implementing Brexit. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2018, 11:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-theresa-may-uk-pm-survival-thread/825989/55 "2018-12-13T11:33:29Z")
I suspect a certain amount of the pro-May votes were intended as a massive “Fuck you” to Rees-Mogg and his ERG chums. Sometimes you vote for someone you dislike because the alternatives are worse (which, ironically, is why I preferred Corbyn during his last leadership contest). Frankly I don’t think one can say “Fuck you” to JRM too many times. It is always appropriate. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2018, 12:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-theresa-may-uk-pm-survival-thread/825989/56 "2018-12-13T12:58:38Z")
Every time I look at Rees-Mogg, I mentally substitute a monocle for his spectacles. It just suits him more. So imagine my delight in finding [this](https://www.thepoke.co.uk/2018/04/26/jacob-rees-mogg-story-1981-everything-youd-imagine-worse/). He’s _always_ been a twat, it turns out. ---
**Author:** ![AK84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85e7bf/32.png) [@AK84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AK84)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2018, 1:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-theresa-may-uk-pm-survival-thread/825989/57 "2018-12-13T13:07:12Z")
> [@MrDibble](#): > > Every time I look at Rees-Mogg, I mentally substitute a monocle for his spectacles. It just suits him more. So imagine my delight in finding [this](https://www.thepoke.co.uk/2018/04/26/jacob-rees-mogg-story-1981-everything-youd-imagine-worse/). He’s _always_ been a twat, it turns out. Please tell me thats satire.:eek: I’ll give you this, he certainly looks the part of a British PM. ---
**Author:** ![Stanislaus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stanislaus/32/3391_2.png) [@Stanislaus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stanislaus)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2018, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-theresa-may-uk-pm-survival-thread/825989/58 "2018-12-13T13:53:52Z")
One little detail from yesterday that’s worth dwelling on. In the House of Commons were two MPs who had been suspended from the Tory party because of sexual harassment scandals. One is currently under investigation by the police in respect of these allegations, the other had admitted/been found to have sent 1000s of sexually explicit text messages to a constituent. As of yesterday morning they were persona non grata in the Tory party. But when every vote counts, what’s the point of having principles, right? Without any kind of due process, both had the whip returned. Not because a decision had been made that the allegations were without foundation, or that the two had served their time in the wilderness. Just because the votes might have been needed to save May’s bacon. At some point in the future, May will make a comment about the importance of confronting sexual harassment, supporting victims and ensuring that we take this issue seriously. Sure. ---
**Author:** ![Malden\_Capell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/malden_capell/32/5274_2.png) [@Malden\_Capell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malden_Capell)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2018, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-theresa-may-uk-pm-survival-thread/825989/59 "2018-12-13T17:49:50Z")
> [@Quartz](#): > > That remains to be seen. But the first requirement is a leader determined to make it work. And May fails on both counts. This is what I was referring to, Quartz. And for the umpteenth time: Brexit cannot be implemented in any manner that ‘respects’ the result. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2018, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-theresa-may-uk-pm-survival-thread/825989/60 "2018-12-13T17:59:50Z")
> [@Malden\_Capell](#): > > And for the umpteenth time: Brexit cannot be implemented in any manner that ‘respects’ the result. Absolutely not true: just leave with no deal. But there’s another thread for discussing Brexit. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-theresa-may-uk-pm-survival-thread/825989.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-theresa-may-uk-pm-survival-thread/825989.md?page=4)