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British Prime Minister Theresa May survives effort to vote her out of power
OLI SCARFF/AFP/Getty Images

British Prime Minister Theresa May survives effort to vote her out of power

May's handling of Brexit questioned by her own party

British Prime Minister Theresa May survived a no-confidence vote Wednesday and will continue to serve as the leader of the Conservative Party despite intense dissatisfaction with her handling of Brexit negotiations with the European Union, according to NBC News.

The British government has failed to reach a viable deal solidifying the relationship between the United Kingdom and the European Union once the U.K. leaves at the end of March.

What was this vote about? At least 48 of her colleagues demanded a vote on May's leadership, triggering a secret ballot vote to determine whether she would remain in power. She needed to win a simple majority of the vote in order to keep her leadership post.

What were the results? May needed 158 of her party's lawmakers to support her in the vote, and she earned 200 votes. The votes against her totaled 117, a number that highlights the bitter division within British Parliament as the Brexit deadline approaches.

What's her future? May, who reportedly said "in her heart" she would like to run for re-election in 2022, told lawmakers she would instead step down before then.

"She recognizes a lot of people are not comfortable with her leading us into a future general election," Conservative party deputy chair James Cleverly said, according to The Guardian.

May, 62, has been leader of the Conservative Party since 2016.

What's going on with Brexit? May's Brexit deal has angered many in her party who favor a more complete break from the EU, rather than a gradual parting which could still leave the country subject to some of the laws and regulations associated with EU membership — but without much of a say on what those laws are.

May, sensing the opposition, cancelled a vote on her Brexit deal at the last minute to avoid defeat, which caused outrage and triggered the no-confidence vote.

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