Theresa May promises June timetable for her departure

LONDON (AP) — British Prime Minister Theresa May fended off pressure Thursday from Conservative Party lawmakers demanding that she set a date for her resignation, buying herself a few more weeks to try to unblock Britain’s Brexit impasse.

But she agreed to give a timetable next month for her departure, raising the prospect that Britain will get a new prime minister before it leaves the European Union — currently scheduled for October 31.

Leaders of a powerful committee that oversees Conservative leadership contests met May to express growing frustration in party ranks at her refusal to name an exit date following her failure to take Britain out of the EU by the original Brexit date of March 29.

Members of the body, known as the 1922 Committee, have threatened May with a leadership challenge if she does not step down.

Committee chairman Graham Brady said after the “frank” meeting that May wanted to defer naming her departure date until Parliament votes on her Brexit bill in the week of June 3.

May’s 10 Downing St. office said Brady spoke with the prime minister’s agreement, and insisted May remained focused “on securing our departure from the EU” by getting backing for her EU divorce deal.

May’s successor will be chosen by a party leadership contest in which any Conservative lawmaker can run.

The winner will become party leader and prime minister without the need for a general election.

May survived a no-confidence vote among party colleagues in December, and under Conservative rules, she can’t face another challenge until a year has passed.

Some lawmakers have been pressing for a change to those rules to allow a new vote on May’s leadership as soon as June.

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