British Prime Minister Theresa May said Friday she would try to form a coalition government with the Democratic Unionist Party in Northern Ireland, after her Conservative Party lost its majority in the House of Commons in Thursday’s election.
It wasn’t clear Friday morning whether May’s effort to stay in power would work, but she said she spoke with Queen Elizabeth II and would try to bring the new coalition together.
“I have just been to see her majesty, the queen, and I will now form a government,” May said, “a government that can provide certainty and lead Britain forward at this critical time for our country.”
That includes guiding the UK through the “Brexit” talks to exit the European Union. Those talks have already been delayed, and could be delayed further in light of Thursday’s election results.
“This government will guide the country through the crucial Brexit talks that begin in just 10 days, and deliver on the will of the British people by taking the United Kingdom out of the European Union,” she said.
I will form a government to “provide certainty and lead Britain forward” – Theresa May https://t.co/8xOR0z6PJc #bbcelection #GE2017 pic.twitter.com/GPFYj5GxH5— BBC Breaking News (@BBCBreaking) June 9, 2017
The election was seen as a major backfire for the Conservative Party, which lost seats and failed to win a majority of the 650-seat Parliament. Conservatives won 318 seats, and Jeremy Corbyn’s Labor Party gained seats to take 261.
Those results were still putting pressure on May to resign, even as she tries to cobble together a new governing majority.
The “Brexit” vote in the UK was the first sign of a populist uprising among western democracies, and it was followed by Trump’s surprise victory. Trump had supported Brexit during the campaign.
