Theresa May will step down as leader of the British Conservative Party
on 7 June and will remain in office as British Prime Minister until her
successor is selected, she announced today.
The British Prime Minister broke down as she said it had been “the
honour of my life” to serve “the country that I love”.
Mrs May faced calls for her resignation after her own party slumped to
10% in some opinion polls ahead of European elections in Britain and the
north of Ireland yesterday. Her latest plans to win support for Brexit
had also again been rejected by both the opposition and a number of her
own Cabinet Ministers.
Speaking at Downing Street today, Mrs May said she had “done everything
I can to convince MPs to back that deal but sadly have not been able to
do that”.
She added: “I tried three times. It is and will always remain a matter
of deep regret to me that I have not been able to deliver Brexit.”
May’s tentative steps towards allowing a second vote on Brexit, a move
which could have spelled the end of the project, was too much for senior
Tories who have been champing at the bit for the opportunity to replace
her.
Boris Johnson, the clownish former Foreign Secretary renowned for his
racist gaffes (pictured, inset), is tipped by bookies as the most likely
candidate to be the next Prime Minister.
After years of mechanically attempting to force an unpopular and
dangerous Brexit through parliament, May ironically advised her
successor that compromise will be key in the coming months to find a
solution to the Brexit impasse.
“To find a way forward, he or she will have to find a consensus in
parliament, where I have not,” May said. “Such a consensus can only be
reached if those on all sides of the debate are willing to compromise.:
She added: “For many years the great humanitarian Sir Nicholas Winton,
who saved the lives of hundreds of children by arranging their
evacuation from Nazi-occupied Czechoslovakia, through the Kinder
transport, was my constituent in Maidenhead.
“At another time of political controversy before his death, he took me
aside at a local event and gave me a piece of advice, ‘never forget that
compromise is not a dirty word, life depends on compromise,’ he was
right,” an emotional Mrs May said.
She will stand down as Tory leader on June 7 and the process of electing
her successor will begin then.
Rioting took place in Derry on Thursday night as polls closed in the election to the European Parliament and as British Prime Minister Theresa May was said to be preparing to announce her resignation over the collapse of support for her party.
Petrol bombs were thrown at the PSNI police in Glengalliagh Park after they attended a bomb alert on Moss Road. The PSNI said the disorder had been “orchestrated”.
The riot, a repeat of one that took place during local council elections earlier this month, will increase pressure on multi-party talks taking place in Belfast. Negotiations involving the Dublin and London governments have so far failed to address the ongoing violence in Derry.
The trouble came as voting was winding down in a closely-fought election to elect three MEPs in the North and ahead of elections in the 26 Counties later today.
There is a chance that the Euro election could be the first in the North in which the number of elected unionists falls to parity with nationalists or even below, a result which could lead to renewed calls for a border poll on Irish reunification.
MAY HEADS FOR THE EXIT
In Britain, the ruling Conservative Party looks set for an unprecedented defeat, and British Prime Minister Theresa May is widely reported to be expected to announce a timeframe for her resignation later today [Friday].
It is reported that May will announce that she will quit as leader of the Conservative Party early in June, staying on until after a state visit by US President Donald Trump, and remaining as British Prime Minister until her successor is chosen.
May’s demise became more certain this week as potential successors forced her to postpone the planned publication of legislation for Brexit and clarify her resignation date.
There was further controversy during voting in Britain on Thursday as more than 500 EU citizens who believed they were registered voters were refused the right to vote on the basis of technicalities. That number included a small number of Irish people who fell foul of new, Brexit-related bureaucracy over the voting rights of EU citizens. Labour MP David Lammy said the development amounted to “ugly discrimination” for people who had endured “three years of being insulted, exploited and asked to apply to stay in their own homes”.
In the 26 Counties, voting begins later today in local and EU elections, as well as a referendum on making divorce easier. There are 31 local authorities, with a total of 949 seats. A total of 1,977 candidates are running for election.
There are three Euro constituencies — Dublin (four seats), Ireland South (five seats) and Midlands North West (four seats). The final candidate elected in both Dublin and the Ireland South constituencies must wait to take their seats until Brexit actually happens.
Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald said that the elections are an opportunity to “pass judgment on an out of touch and incompetent government”, pointing in particular to the failure of the minority government on housing.
“Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael should not be rewarded for leaving a generation with no prospect of owning their own home, they should not be rewarded for 21st century tenements where 42 people are expected to share a kitchen,” she said.
Polls open at 7am this [Friday] morning and they will remain open until 10pm tonight. State-run broadcaster RTE says it will announce the results of an exit poll after voting closes.
Local election results from individual constituencies will start coming on Saturday afternoon but most will become known on Sunday. The referendum result will be revealed late Saturday or early Sunday.
Counting for the EU election will only commence in the 26 Counties on Sunday morning, though no results will be announced until polls have closed all over Europe at 10pm Sunday evening. Most results from Ireland’s three European constituencies will become available on Monday.
Counting for the EU election in the Six Counties will only begin on Monday morning and should be known by Monday evening. Results will be published here through the weekend and into Monday.
So, she’s gone. Or she will be in a week or two. I have to say it is hard not to have compassion for someone who has suffered in the press the way Mrs May has. Politically, it’s hard to not to be harsh.
Delivering Brexit was not an impossible task, but she made it infinitely more difficult for herself by running to the country for a mandate and finding only that she’d only replicated the marginal Brexit majority the Brexit referendum had delivered. Hindsight is a marvellous thing.
Fundamentally, the referendum forced her (and many other parliamentarians) to act against her own original better judgement.
This is one of the reasons that my good friend and former colleague Paul Evans argued with the ardency of a firm disbeliever back in 2010 here on Slugger that Referendum(b)s are a completely nuts way to consult the people.
Whoever takes over from her also takes on the same level of risk she’s been trying to juggle. Whoever it is (and Boris Johnson seems to be the favourite at the moment) cannot afford to play political games with it.
There are limits to the popularity game which gave rise to Brexit in the first place. Over time, as the far right in The Netherlands may find out on Sunday, populism can make you less popular than you think.
Writing before her resignation, Robert Shrimsley in the FT said…
The government has disintegrated, the Conservative party is fracturing, faith in the political process is ebbing away. Some new sense of direction is necessary, though many MPs believe that what comes next could make us nostalgic for the May era.
Her failures were legion and she contributed hugely to the sense of crisis but she did at least at the end, accept the realism of the situation and see a higher duty in trying to prevent the worst outcome. [Emphasis added]
So shall we hang on for the ride, or is Brexit just destined to be a state of mind rather than an actual state of being?
ANNUAL FUN CITY BOWL – FDNY VS NYPD FOOTBALL
On Saturday, June 1, 2019, beginning at 5:00 PM, the Annual Fun City Bowl will be played in Brooklyn at MCU Park in Coney Island. Come watch as the FDNY Bravest and NYPD Finest Football Teams battle it out in this annual classic. Please bring the family and enjoy the day in Coney Island. Tickets are available online at http://www.brooklyncyclones.com/ticketsmega/specialevents/football/.
MEMORIAL MASS
On Friday, May 31, 2019, at 1030 hours, a 20th Anniversary Memorial Mass will be held honoring the memory of Captain Vincent Fowler, L-7 and Firefighter Fred Soller, L-7. The Mass will be held in the quarters of E-16/L-7, located at 234 East 29 Street, New York, NY. All off duty members and their families are invited to attend. Members are requested to attend in dress uniform.
MEMORIAL MASS
On Saturday, June 1, 2019, at 1030 hours, E-309/L-159 will host a Memorial Mass honoring the memory of previously assigned deceased members. The Mass will be held at St. Thomas Aquinas Church, 1550 Hendrickson Street, Brooklyn, NY. All off-duty members and their families are invited to attend. Members are requested to attend in dress uniform. For additional information, email E309L159@yahoo.com.
MARTIN J. EGAN JR. 5K MEMORIAL RUN/WALK
On Sunday, June 2, 2019, at 10:00 AM, the 13th Annual Marty Egan 5K Memorial Run/Walk will be held in Midland Beach picnic area, Lincoln Avenue and Fr. Capadanno Blvd., Staten Island, NY. Pre-registration is $20, Race day registration is $25. Pre-registration, T-shirt and bib pickup on Thursday, May 30th, between 6:30-8:30 PM at Grant City Tavern, Fremont Ave. and South Railroad Ave., Staten Island, NY. Kids fun run (no fee, medals to all) and other activities for kids, food, beverages. Proceeds go to a scholarship fund in Marty’s name. Applications can be obtained online at www.sirunning.com. For more information call Mark Egan at 718-966-9493.
NYC BATTLE OF THE BADGES
WorkWell NYC, the City’s worksite wellness program, is partnering with WW (Weight Watchers® reimagined) for the NYC Battle of the Badges – a 12-week weight loss competition between DOC, DSNY, FDNY, & NYPD. The agency with the greatest percentage of teams achieving 6% weight loss will win a jackpot of up to $20,000. If FDNY wins, Weight Watchers will donate this money to the FDNY Foundation. Participation is completely voluntary and free. Weight Watchers will contribute $5 to the jackpot for every participant that joins and an additional $15 for each new or current WW member that participates. Teams can consist of 8 to 10 people, so help spread the word, team up to lose weight and help the FDNY win. Competition starts on 6/3/19, but you can register up to 6/13/19. To sign up or learn more, visit www.nyc.gov/ww.
