Britain's May to face fury of own MPs in battle

British Prime Minister Theresa May's future was hanging in the balance Monday as she prepared for a showdown with angry MPs from her Conservative party following its disastrous performance in last week's election.

May's Conservatives unexpectedly lost their majority in parliament in Thursday's snap vote, causing political chaos ahead of Brexit talks with the European Union set to start next week.

She is due to face MPs later Monday, where she could face more demands to quit over her lacklustre campaign and decision to call the election in the first place.

The chaos has weighed on the pound, which has plunged almost two percent since Thursday, and London's FTSE stock index, which was down 0.2 percent Monday. 

May however has vowed to stay on, and on Sunday unveiled a largely unchanged new cabinet, which will meet for the first time on Monday.

The visibly weakened premier denied she was feeling "shell-shocked" after her election gamble backfired.

"What I'm feeling is that actually there is a job to be done and I think what the public want is to ensure that the government is getting on with that job," May said in an interview with Sky News.

Foreign minister Boris Johnson, who was reported by British media to be lining up a leadership bid, insisted May should stay.

"The people of Britain have had a bellyful of promises and politicking," he wrote in The Sun tabloid. "Now is the time for delivery -- and Theresa May is the right person to continue that vital work."

May's party fell eight seats short of retaining its parliamentary majority, and is now in talks with Northern Ireland's ultra-conservative Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) -- which won 10 seats -- to forge an informal alliance.

- 'Walk away' with no deal -

Brexit minister David Davis insisted the government still aimed to take Britain out of the EU single market.

"The reason for leaving the single market is because we want to take back control of our borders, they're not compatible," he told BBC radio.

He also said the government would "walk away" with no deal if talks broke down on ending Britain's four-decade membership of the bloc.

But Ruth Davidson, the pro-EU leader of the Conservatives in Scotland, called on May to "reopen" the government's Brexit plans.

She warned her 13 MPs "will vote entirely as they believe they should" in parliament, raising doubts the government could secure enough votes to pass a deal taking Britain out of the single market.

- 'Dead woman walking' -

Former finance minister George Osborne, who May sacked after taking office following the historic Brexit vote last June, on Sunday said May was now a "dead woman walking".

May has a busy schedule ahead, with a cabinet meeting on Monday and talks with French President Emmanuel Macron the following day. 

Brexit will likely be on the agenda at the Paris meeting, after May confirmed she will stick to the negotiating timetable.

May tried to reassert her shattered authority at the weekend by announcing her new cabinet -- with no changes among her top team. 

In a surprise move, Michael Gove was appointed environment and agriculture minister less than a year after the prime minister sacked him as justice minister.

After the opposition Labour party made hefty election gains by focusing heavily on national issues, May listed areas such as education and housing as top priorities.

May has shown little public contrition for the electoral gamble that backfired spectactularly, but was forced to accept the resignations of her two top aides -- reportedly a requirement by cabinet colleagues for allowing her to stay in office.

On Monday, she faces members of the Conservatives' 1922 Committee, which can trigger a vote of confidence in a party leader if it receives letters from 15 percent of the party's MPs.

They are expected to make demands on Brexit negotiations and any deal with the DUP.

- DUP deal slammed -

The new government is set to present its legislative programme to parliament on June 19, although there were indications this could be delayed as the Conservatives seek to bolster their position.

DUP leader Arlene Foster said there had been "very good discussions" so far and she would travel to London to meet May on Tuesday.

Defence Secretary Michael Fallon said the government was not looking at a formal coalition but would seek assurances that the DUP would vote with May "on the big things".

He stressed he did not share their ultra-conservative views on issues such as abortion and homosexuality, which have caused disquiet among many Conservatives.

The deal has also caused consternation in Dublin, with Irish premier Enda Kenny warning such an alliance could upset Northern Ireland's fragile peace.

London's neutrality is key to the delicate balance of power in Northern Ireland, which was once plagued by violence over Britain's control of the province.

The deal is also threatening to overshadow talks on Monday aimed at restoring local government in Northern Ireland after the power-sharing arrangement collapsed in January.

Source: AFP