Theresa May survived a vote of confidence in her leadership on Wednesday evening, with 200 Conservative MPs voting for her and 117 voting against her, after a day of fierce backroom lobbying. May had warned her MPs that a change of Prime Minister would, “put our country’s future at risk.”
The PM needed to secure at least 159 votes from Conservative MPs - half the parliamentary party plus one - to remain as leader.
The vote was called on Wednesday morning when it was confirmed that at least 48 MPs had written calling for the removal of Mrs May over her handling of Brexit.
To gain support, May told her MPs that she would not be the Conserative Party leader at the next general election, a humiliating concession.
Jacob Rees-Mogg has continued to criticise May and calls for her to go, telling Sky News that the PM has, "given away one of the core parts of her authority" by saying she would not stand at the next election.
Speaking outside Downing Street after winning the confidence vote, May said she had listened to MPs who had voted against her,
“A significant number of colleagues did cast a vote against me and I have listened to what they said,” adding that she now would be getting on with the job of delivering Brexit:
"That must start here in Westminster, with politicians on all sides coming together and acting in the national interest. For my part I've heard what the House of Commons said about the Northern Ireland backstop, and when I go to the European Council tomorrow, I will be seeking legal and political assurances that will assuage the concerns that Members of Parliament have on that issue.
"But while delivering Brexit is important, we also need to focus on the other issues that people feel are vital to them, that matter to them day to day, the issues that we came into politics to deal with: building a stronger economy, delivering first class public services, building the homes that families need. We owe it to the people who put us here to put their priorities first. So here is our renewed mission - delivering the Brexit that people voted for, bringing the country back together and building a country that truly works for everyone."
Theresa May's victory protects her from another leadership challenge from within her own party for the next 12 months.
What does Theresa May's Brexit deal mean for UK citizens living in Europe?
Protecting citizens rights has been a key issue as more than three million EU citizens live in the UK and one million UK nationals reside in European countries.
The proposed agreement safeguards the existing rights of UK citizens who were living in the EU up to the end of the transition period and vice versa. Family members will be able to join them, as under the current legislation. Children born after Brexit will also be covered.
However it does not clear up "onward movement" questions as post-Brexit Britons who want to move from one EU country to anothe, as it stands would not have the right to do so.
It also doesn't cover what happens to people who want to work in different countries, which is one of the main concerns for British nationals living in the EU.
