English edition of Asharq Al-Awsat - the world's premier pan-Arab daily.
Senior members of British Prime Minister Theresa May's government rallied to her defense Monday amid doubts over her ability to remain in power following a disastrous election result.
The British general election last week has done little to remove the uncertainty facing the business community and Britain's worldwide partners as it delivered a shock hung Parliament, forcing the government to turn to the right-wing Northern Irish Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) for support.
May has struggled to reassert her authority after losing her parliamentary majority in Thursday's snap election, which she had been under no pressure to call. Setting the tone, Michael Heseltine, a leading pro-European Conservative told the BBC's Andrew Marr Show on Sunday that "hard Brexit" was "the cancer gnawing at the heart of the Conservative Party".
More important still, she has destroyed the foundation of her Brexit policy, the negotiations for Britain's departure from the European Union.
Foreign minister Boris Johnson, who was reported by British media to be lining up a leadership bid, insisted May should stay.
However in a sequence of events that seems to have caught everyone by surprise the Conservatives needed the support of "our friends" (to use Theresa May's words) at the DUP to form a government as they fell eight seats short of the 326 mark required to secure a majority in the House of Commons.
The new government is set to present its legislative programme to parliament on June 19, although there were indications this could be delayed as the Conservatives seek to bolster their position.
The DUP leader Arlene Foster - who will meet May to finalize the power-sharing deal on Tuesday - has said no-one wants a hard Brexit.
Defence Secretary Michael Fallon said the government was not looking at a formal coalition but would seek assurances the DUP would vote with May "on the big things" such as the budget, defence issues and Brexit.
There have also been concerns that joining forces with the hardline Protestant party threatens London's neutrality in Northern Ireland, which is key to the delicate balance of power in a province once plagued by violence.
Prince Harry reportedly received the Queen's permission to marry Meghan Markle
If anything, what they have is a real friendship, one that has been established on late night filmings and good banter on the set. Meghan Markle treats her " Suits " co-stars like a family but did not answer the question concerning Prince Harry .
It follows the resignations of her co-chiefs of staff Nick Timothy and Fiona Hill whose abrasive style upset ministers and who were blamed by many in the party for the abysmal election campaign.
"Our two parties have enjoyed a strong relationship over many years, and this gives me the confidence to believe that we will be able to work together in the interests of the whole United Kingdom".
Another Tory MP said there was no discussion at the meeting of how long Mrs May would remain in post, adding: "she's won, she's got to be PM".
But the newspapers were unsparing, with The Observer writing: "Discredited, humiliated, diminished".
The Guardian goes with: "May appeals for support as her future hangs in the balance". "May signals soft Brexit in cabinet reshuffle".
What's becoming clear, though, is that May's Tory party is on the brink of another bitter round of infighting over Brexit, with pro-Europeans now feeling they have a chance to change the direction of policy. This is still on.
She is expected to say that core elements of the Conservative Party manifesto will be ditched in order to win a majority for her Queen's Speech in parliament next week. Corbyn said another national election might be needed to break the deadlock. "You try and have the best possible access from outside".
Mrs Foster will tomorrow fly to London with her team of 10 MPs and will later hold talks with the prime minister in Downing Street.
European Council President Donald Tusk has warned there was "no time to lose" after May began the two-year countdown to Britain's withdrawal by triggering Article 50 of the EU's Lisbon Treaty on March 29.
But others warn that it will be impossible to remain inside the single market without accepting free movement - pointing out that high immigration was a key factor in the Brexit vote past year.
But there is speculation she may now be forced to soften her approach, which had included a threat to walk away without a new trade deal in place.
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