Theresa May to Stay On As UK Prime Minister After Losing Majority in Snap Election

LONDON — (AP) Theresa May has confirmed she plans to stay on as Britain’s prime minister to provide certainty to the country, with support from Northern Ireland’s Democratic Unionist Party.

After a brief meeting with Queen Elizabeth II at Buckingham Palace, May said Friday the new government will guide Britain’s exit talks from the European Union, which are set to begin in just 10 days.

Standing in front of 10 Downing Street, May said her Conservatives and the DUP will work together to “fulfill the promise of Brexit.”

May had called Thursday’s early election to strengthen her hand in Brexit talks but instead lost the Conservatives’ overall majority in Parliament.

Prime Minister Theresa May has arrived at Buckingham Palace to meet with Queen Elizabeth II and seek permission to form a new government.

May’s political position has been seriously weakened after Thursday’s election, which she had called to strengthen her hand for Britain’s exit talks from the European Union. Instead, the election saw her Conservatives losing their overall majority in Parliament.

May, who has resisted calls for her to resign as leader, could now seek to form a government with support from Northern Ireland’s Democratic Unionist Party.

The queen does not get involved in party politics but as head of state she must give the nod to the formation of any government.

Germany’s main business lobby group is urging the British government to tone down its Brexit rhetoric after an election it says delivered a blow to plans for a “hard Brexit.”

Dieter Kempf, the head of the Federation of German Industries, said German industry is concerned by the election result, which saw Prime Minister Theresa May’s Conservative Party lose its majority in the House of Commons.

He said a weakened British government has an “obligation to limit the damage on both side of the Channel for citizens and companies, and to negotiate sensible solutions.”

He said that “the hard Brexit course has been voted out” and that it’s “time for the British government to rhetorically disarm.”

Kempf says in a statement that negotiators cannot waste any more time, and that they effectively have only a year to agree on exit terms and transitional arrangements.