A vote of no confidence in British prime minister Theresa May will be held on Wednesday evening, after a crucial number of lawmakers in her ruling Conservative party revolted over Brexit.
May will need to secure the support of more than half her party’s 315 lawmakers for her position to be safe. If she loses, she will be forced to step down as prime minister and will be unable to run in the leadership contest that follows.
May’s decision on Monday to postpone a key parliamentary vote on the Brexit deal she negotiated with the E.U., fearing loss by a “significant margin,” is widely seen as the factor that led lawmakers to trigger the vote.
Here’s what to know about the vote that could force Theresa May from office.
How was the vote of no confidence triggered?
The vote was prompted on Tuesday, the date the parliamentary vote to accept May’s deal was set to be held.
To trigger the vote, 48 Conservatives —15% of the party’s lawmakers in parliament — submitted letters to Sir Graham Bra..