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What Exactly Is Going On With Theresa May Today in the U.K.?

Chrissy Teigen isn’t the only one perplexed by British politics.

Chrissy Teigen is perplexed by the ins and outs of British politics, and, frankly, she’s not alone. It’s become increasingly clear that there is drama afoot in the United Kingdom this week, but what does a headline like “Theresa May to face vote of no confidence from Tory MPs” really mean to the American audience (or, for that matter, a British one, as several Brits replied to Teigen’s tweet confessing they, too, are confused, including author Sue Perkins, who wrote: “Don’t worry, we can’t grasp it either”)? If you fully understand what is going on with British Prime Minister Theresa May, congratulations. If not, here’s what it all means:

What is a no-confidence vote?

Bluntly put, May’s job was put in jeopardy, and a secret-ballot vote on Wednesday of Conservative Party members of Parliament (the British equivalent of Congress) gathered to determine whether she would remain in power as the head of her party, and as the British prime minister.

Who is behind the vote?

May is under fire from her own party—the Conservative or, familiarly, the Tory party. “MP” is short for “member of Parliament.” There are 317 MPs eligible to vote; she needed a straight majority, which would be 159.

. . . And why is it happening?

May is embattled over her handling of Brexit, the U.K.’s nationalist-driven withdrawal from the European Union, voted on in 2016. As The New York Times describes it, “Many hard-line Brexit supporters within her party believed she was not making a complete enough break” from the EU or managing the breakup strongly enough. In recent days, May further angered Parliament when she failed to provide the body with advice her government lawyers had given about Brexit, which led to her being the leader of the first-ever U.K. government voted in contempt of Parliament (sort of like being held in contempt of court). Further embroiling her: She postponed a key vote on a Brexit deal between the U.K. and the EU, presuming she’d be shot down.

What in the world is the parliamentary mace?

You may or may not have seen footage of Labour Party (the Conservative Party’s main opposition) MP Lloyd Russell-Moyle grabbing what looks like a large gold scepter on the House of Commons floor on Monday: This is the parliamentary mace, a symbol of royal authority, from which Parliament derives its ability to govern (and an object that truly calls to mind Harry Potter, but that’s neither here nor there). Russell-Moyle’s seizing of the mace was an act of protest, after announcing that debate would not continue on the floor—“Without [the mace], Parliament cannot meet or pass laws,” The Guardian explained. But it was roundly seen as extreme by fellow MPs, many of whom gasped in horror.

So, how did it turn out?

Prime Minister Theresa May won the vote by 200 to 117, securing 63% of the total vote, and making her immune from a leadership challenge for a year. "I am pleased to have received the backing of my colleagues in tonight's ballot," she told the BBC. "Whilst I am grateful for that support, a significant number of colleagues did cast a vote against me and I have listened to what they said." She spoke of plans to deliver "the Brexit people voted for, bringing the country back together and building a country that really works for everyone".

See the videos.
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