May holds off rebels for another week; hints at fourth Brexit vote

UK Prime Minister Theresa May's future intentions were no clearer on Thursday as she promised to meet a Conservative backbench committee next week to discuss a departure timetable.

May suggested she could make a fourth attempt to bring her Brexit deal to MPs for a vote in order to avoid Britain participating in the European elections. She pledged to leave office if the deal was passed by parliament.

There was no firm guarantee May would give a “road map” for her departure when she meets the powerful 1922 committee, which represents Conservative backbenchers.

Committee chair Graham Brady said May's intention was “to have a further vote, probably a second reading of the withdrawal agreement bill before the European elections take place and hopefully in the much nearer future than that”.

Dissident Tory MPs have been calling for changes to party rules in an attempt to unseat May.

As Brexit talks with the main opposition Labour Party faltered, hard right Tories were pushing again for changes to Conservative rules that would allow them a second attempt to topple her.

May is currently insulated against a coup by guidelines that say she cannot face another internal challenge within 12 months of a previous no-confidence vote.

The prime minister saw off rebels last December, but a recent push to change the rules failed narrowly by nine to seven. Reports on Wednesday suggested there is increasing support to amend them after the Brexit deadline was extended to October 31.