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Bruised May survives to fight another day

Can she call this a victory? Last night, the prime minister won a vote of confidence in her leadership by 200 votes to 117. But some say her authority is now in tatters. The prime minister's political future hung in the balance. Last night, after a tumultuous week of delayed votes and letters of no confidence, Conservative MPs voted on whether to oust Theresa May as party leader. At 9pm, Sir Graham Brady, chair of the 1922 CommitteeThe committee of backbench Conservative MPs. If 15% of Conservative MPs submit a letter of no confidence to the chairman of the committee, a vote of no confidence will be held. , announced the result to a hall of Tory MPs. "The parliamentary party does have confidence in Theresa May," he said, and the room burst into loud applause. In the end, 200 Conservative MPs voted in support of May, while 117 opposed her. There was no applause as the numbers were read, just muted mumbles and gasps. It was a victory, but a narrower one than the prime minister might have hoped. And it came at a cost. In a desperate plea to win support from wavering MPs ahead of the ballot, May promised that she will not lead the Tories into the next general election. Response to the result was sharply divided, as her allies and enemies rushed to claim victory. "She ought to go and see the Queen urgently and resign," said Jacob Rees-Mogg, a leading critic of the prime minister. Brexit Secretary Stephen Barclay congratulated May on a "clear and decisive victory". She also received vocal support from Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt and Home Secretary Sajid Javid, who had both been touted as contenders to replace her if the vote had gone the other way. Meanwhile, Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said the government is in "chaos" and challenged May to "bring her botched deal back to Parliament next week." "A significant number of colleagues did cast a vote against me," May acknowledged outside Downing Street last night. Still, she strived for unity, promising to deliver a Brexit that "brings the country together rather than entrenching division. That must start here in Westminster." But with a majority of MPs in Parliament opposed to her deal, and some EU leaders insisting there is "no room whatsoever" to renegotiate, the prime minister is staring down a rocky and uncertain path. Was this a good night for Theresa May? On the brink It was a clear victory, say some. May won with a respectable majority and called the Tory rebels' bluff. They now cannot challenge her leadership for another 12 months. With that threat removed, she can focus all her attention on delivering Brexit, and go into tomorrow's EU summit with confidence. The prime minister has lost the last scraps of authority, respond others. Her party is in open rebellion, and she has the support of only 200 MPs in a Parliament of 650. Her Brexit deal is not getting through. Having pledged to resign before the next election, she can delay the inevitable and limp on for now, but her premiership is effectively over. Keywords1922 Committee - The committee of backbench Conservative MPs. If 15% of Conservative MPs submit a letter of no confidence to the chairman of the committee, a vote of no confidence will be held. 

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