Viet Nam News LONDON — British Prime Minister Theresa May on Wednesday survived a confidence vote by her own MPs but lost the support of one third of her colleagues, signalling the battle she still faces to get her Brexit deal through parliament. May won the backing of 200 Conservative lawmakers, but 117 voted to oust her -- and only after she conceded she would step down before the 2022 election. "I’m pleased to have received the backing of my colleagues in tonight’s ballot," she said outside her Downing Street office after the result was announced. "A significant number of colleagues did cast votes against me and I’ve listened to what they’ve said." She said she wanted to "get on with the job of delivering Brexit", and to see "politicians on all sides coming together". The result, announced after a secret ballot, was met with huge cheers from May’s supporters gathered in parliament, while the pound rose on the news. But leading Brexit rebel … [Read more...] about UK PM survives confidence vote over Brexit deal
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PM holds bilateral meetings in ASEM 12 framework
PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc (third from left) meets with President of the EC Jean Claude Juncker (Photo: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) – Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc held bilateral meetings with many foreign leaders on the sidelines of the 12th Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) Summit in Brussels on October 18 and 19 (local time). PM Phuc took the occasions to inform the foreign leaders on Vietnam’s socio-economic achievements and its contributions to the common cause of the international community. He asked the EU member countries to push for the early signing of the Vietnam-EU Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) which was approved by the EC on October 17, underlining that together with the agreement on Comprehensive Partnership and Cooperation (PCA), the EVFTA will provide an important foundation for Vietnam and the EU to bring their relations into a new period of development, as well as to strengthen ASEAN-EU partnership and connectivity between EU and the Asian-Pacific region. The … [Read more...] about PM holds bilateral meetings in ASEM 12 framework
UK PM faces backlash over Brexit compromise
Prime Minister Theresa May's office insisted Friday (Oct 12) it would not "trap" Britain in an endless customs union with the EU after Brexit, amid reports some ministers could quit if this is the price of a divorce deal. British Prime Minister Theresa May wants a new trade deal with the EU by the end of December 2021 at the latest AFP/HENRY NICHOLLS But her spokeswoman declined to confirm that a fall-back plan to keep open the land border with Ireland after Britain leaves the bloc in March 2019 would be "time-limited". Negotiations in Brussels have stepped up ahead of a high-stakes EU summit next week, and May briefed selected members of her cabinet late Thursday on how she intends to get an agreement. Several eurosceptic ministers are now reportedly considering resigning over plans to give ground on the so-called backstop arrangement. Britain has proposed a customs arrangement with the EU to avoid physical checks between Northern Ireland and EU member Ireland, until the … [Read more...] about UK PM faces backlash over Brexit compromise
UK PM calls for ‘free elections’ in Thailand
British Prime Minister Theresa May called for "free and open elections" in Thailand as she met with the country's leader Prayut Chan-O-Cha in London on Wednesday (Jun 20). Britain's Prime Minister Theresa May (left) meets Prime Minister of Thailand, Prayut Chan-o-cha (right) at 10 Downing Street in central London. (Niklas HALLE'N/AFP) Prayut, a former army chief who seized power from Thailand's civilian government in a 2014 coup, will next meet French President Emmanuel Macron on Monday as part of a highly-publicised European tour. "The Prime Minister urged continued progress towards free and open elections in Thailand in line with international standards, including restrictions on political parties being lifted at an early stage," her spokesperson said after the meeting. May's meeting with Prayut came just two days after Thailand carried out its first execution since 2009, prompting outrage from human rights groups. During their sit-down, Prayut assured May that Thailand … [Read more...] about UK PM calls for ‘free elections’ in Thailand
Chinese President Xi Jinping calls to UK PM Theresa May
Chinese President Xi Jinping and UK PM Theresa May (Source: Getty Images)During the call, the two leaders agreed to further promote the “Golden Era” of bilateral ties between the two sides, adding that China was pushing for more cooperation with the UK under the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative, Xinhua reported. President Xi went on to say that as permanent members of the UN Security Council, China and the UK should work together to build a new international relationship on the basis of mutual respect, justice and win-win cooperation. He said both countries were supporters of globalization, and that China was willing to work with the UK to support free trade and multi-lateralism. According to China’s state media, President Xi also told PM Theresa May that there needs to be a comprehensive, just and objective probe into a suspected chemical weapons attack in Syria. The two also agreed that the use of chemical weapons “by anyone, anywhere, for any … [Read more...] about Chinese President Xi Jinping calls to UK PM Theresa May
UK PM May says she wants free trade deal with China
Britain is seeking a free trade agreement with China, Prime Minister Theresa May said on Wednesday as she flew to the country for talks with Chinese leaders, adding that more should be done immediately to open up market access for British firms. The ambitious long-term goal of securing a free trade deal with the world's second-largest economy comes as May begins a three-day visit to China accompanied by businesses from sectors where Britain feels it can capitalise on China's growing middle class consumers and rapidly expanding services sector. "China is a country that we want to do a trade deal with," May told reporters aboard her Royal Air Force jet on the way to Wuhan - a university city where she will announce half a billion pounds worth of education deals. "But, I think that there is more we can be doing in the interim...in terms of looking at potential barriers to trade and the opening up of markets to ensure...British businesses able to do good trade into China." Asked about … [Read more...] about UK PM May says she wants free trade deal with China
UK to access EU markets during Brexit transition
In a statement on phase two of Brexit, Mrs. May said the “soft Brexit” plan will make people see that the government can ensure a smooth Brexit process. She affirmed that during the transition, the UK will continue to access EU markets.The PM said the UK will prepare independent trade policies through dialogues, and may sign trade deals with third countries following Brexit. She said EU officials have agreed to possible trade deals with the UK. … [Read more...] about UK to access EU markets during Brexit transition
PM May tells EU Brexit on track despite vote disappointment
May said she was "disappointed" that members of her Conservative party had rebelled late Wednesday to demand parliament has the final say on the separation, but stressed: "We're on course to deliver Brexit."The other 27 EU leaders are expected to use the two-day summit to endorse a deal struck last week on the key Brexit separation issues after months of torturous negotiations.Several leaders sought to play down the impact of the vote in the House of Commons, although Luxembourg Prime Minister Xavier Bettel warned: "It's not making her life easier."May has struggled to assert her authority since losing her parliamentary majority in a June vote, and the latest setback will renew fears about her mandate for negotiations on the second phase.Pro-European MPs declared they had taken back control of Brexit after amending a landmark piece of legislation to ensure that they must approve the final divorce deal.Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte said May still had a "formidable stature", saying the … [Read more...] about PM May tells EU Brexit on track despite vote disappointment
British PM suffers defeat in Brexit bill
LONDON: British lawmakers defeated Prime Minister Theresa May in a key Brexit vote on Wednesday (Dec 13), asserting their authority over the EU exit process by demanding a final say on the divorce deal.Eleven members of May's Conservative party joined with opposition lawmakers to inflict the government's first defeat over the flagship EU (Withdrawal) Bill, sparking huge cheers in the House of Commons.Ministers had sought to buy off its critics with a last-minute concession, but leading rebel Dominic Grieve, a former attorney general, had warned: "It's too late."His amendment would require new legislation to implement any divorce deal with Brussels before Britain leaves the EU in March 2019.It passed by 309 votes to 305, with a twelfth Conservative MP effectively abstaining by voting in both camps."Victory on Grieve amendment!" tweeted Keir Starmer, the Labour party's Brexit spokesman, heralding the "courageous Tories" who voted with the opposition.The vital role played by … [Read more...] about British PM suffers defeat in Brexit bill
British PM’s Brexit defeat looms over EU summit
BRUSSELS — British Prime Minister Theresa May heads to a Brussels summit on Thursday reeling from a parliamentary defeat over Brexit that threatens to undermine her just as EU leaders back the opening of trade talks. The other 27 leaders are expected during the two-day meeting in Brussels to endorse an interim deal on the terms of Britain’s divorce that May sealed with the EU last week after months of torturous negotiations. But on the eve of the summit May’s own lawmakers rebelled to demand that parliament have the final say on any Brexit agreement before Britain leaves the European Union on March 29, 2019. The fresh blow to May’s authority will renew fears in Brussels about her ability to push through a deal and avoid a disorderly Brexit -- something EU President Donald Tusk said this week would involve a "furious race against time" to avoid. Leaders are expected on Friday to give the green light for a second phase of talks covering a post-Brexit transition … [Read more...] about British PM’s Brexit defeat looms over EU summit