May to face Tory backbenchers following disastrous election result
Conservative Party lost parliamentary majority in Thursday's election
Deal to form government with NI's DUP under scrutiny
Updated : 10:24
UK PM Theresa May faced a group of senior Conservative MPs in a crunch meeting on Monday as she looks try and win backbench support following the unexpected loss of the party's majority last week.
May called the snap election with the purpose of creating an increased mandate for her Brexit plans, but a strong performance from Labour led to the Tories having to seek out a coalition with Northern Ireland’s DUP.
Reports on Monday suggested May will ask her parliamentary colleagues to support her leadership, while she will vow to run the government in a less controlling manner following a weekend cabinet reshuffle.
Two of May's closest advisers, Fiona Hill and Nick Timothy, resigned as part of the reshuffle, with former party leadership candidate and prominent Brexit campaigner Michael Gove unexpectedly brought back to the cabinet, where he replaced Andrea Leadsom as environment secretary.
At the meeting with the 1922 Committee, despite several calls to resign since Thursday’s election, May's hard Brexit stance is certain to come under pressure during the meeting, with her focus on securing controls on immigration thought to be unpopular among many backbenchers.
CONFIDENCE AND SUPPLY
Concerns will also be raised about the so-called "confidence and supply" agreement with the DUP, which has garnered criticism from several sides following news that the parties were discussing a deal to form a government.
The DUP have been criticised for controversial policies such as opposition to same-sex marriage, as well as several comments from prominent party members in relation to homosexuality and environmental issues.
Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson told the BBC that May has now been forced to reconsider her Brexit plans ahead of key negotiations with European leaders in the coming weeks.
"I want to ensure that we can look again at issues like Brexit, which we know we are now going to have to get cross-party support for, and move to a consensus within the country about what it means and what we seek to achieve as we leave," Davidson said.