VOA慢速英语2019--梅姨表示愿辞职换脱欧协议通过

Britain’s May to Resign without Brexit Deal

British Prime Minister Theresa May said on Friday she will resign after several failed attempts to take the country out of the European Union.

Standing¹ in front of the prime minister’s official home on Friday, May said, “I will shortly leave the job that has been the honor of my life to hold.”

She added, “It is, and will always remain, a matter of deep regret to me that I have not been able to deliver Brexit.”

May became prime minister after Britain voted in 2016 to leave the European Union (EU) in what became known as Brexit. For nearly three years, she was not able to get parliament to approve a Brexit deal. Britain now has until October 31 to secure an agreement to leave the EU.

May will resign as Conservative Party leader on June 7. Her resignation will lead to a party leadership election. A number of people have expressed an interest in leading the Conservatives. High-level party leaders are to meet the following week.

Who will be the next prime minister?

Some conservative lawmakers have looked at May as a barrier to Brexit. However, her replacement² will face the same parliament, which remains³ deeply divided over whether to leave the EU.

Boris Johnson, a supporter of Brexit, is the leading candidate to succeed May as party leader and prime minister. Johnson resigned last year as May’s foreign secretary after disagreement over the terms of Brexit.

Johnson wrote on Twitter, “Thank you for your stoical service to our country and the Conservative Party. It is now time to follow her urgings: to come together and deliver Brexit.”

Another possible successor is Andrea Leadsom. Her recent resignation as the leader of the House of Commons led to May’s latest political crisis. Leadsom praised May’s commitment to country and duty. Leadsom added, “She did her utmost, and I wish her all the very best.”

European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker called May “a woman of courage” for whom he has great respect.

Also on Friday, the spokeswoman for German Chancellor⁴ Angela Merkel noted⁵ that the EU will continue to work closely with Britain’s next leader for “an orderly exit.”

I'm Anne Ball.

Words in This Story

a matter of - phrase, used to say that something is important

deliver - v. to produce the promised or wanted result

stoical - adj. accepting the duty without complaining

commitment - n. the action of someone who works very hard to do something

utmost - adj. greatest or highest degree

courage - adj. the ability to do something that you know is difficult

1 standing   

n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的

参考例句：

• After the earthquake only a few houses were left standing.地震过后只有几幢房屋还立着。
• They're standing out against any change in the law.他们坚决反对对法律做任何修改。

2 replacement   

n.取代，替换，交换；替代品，代用品

参考例句：

• We are hard put to find a replacement for our assistant.我们很难找到一个人来代替我们的助手。
• They put all the students through the replacement examination.他们让所有的学生参加分班考试。

3 remains   

n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹

参考例句：

• He ate the remains of food hungrily.他狼吞虎咽地吃剩余的食物。
• The remains of the meal were fed to the dog.残羹剩饭喂狗了。

4 chancellor   

n.(英)大臣；法官；(德、奥)总理；大学校长

参考例句：

• They submitted their reports to the Chancellor yesterday.他们昨天向财政大臣递交了报告。
• He was regarded as the most successful Chancellor of modern times.他被认为是现代最成功的财政大臣。

5 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。