British Prime Minister Theresa May narrowly won a confidence vote in parliament on Thursday, showing her weakness after her Conservative Party lost its majority in a shock general election result earlier this month.
With support from the small ultra-conservative Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), May’s legislative programme — known as the Queen’s Speech — was approved by 323 votes in favour and 309 against in the 650-seat parliament.
Her minority government earlier announced it would change abortion rights for Northern Irish women ahead of a threatened revolt by MPs in a separate vote, exposing her vulnerable state following the disastrous election showing on June 8.
The announcement led the opposition Labour Party to withdraw an amendment to the Queen’s Speech demanding the state-run National Health Service in England stop charging women coming from the province, where abortion is illegal except when the life of the mother is in danger.
