美国有线新闻 CNN 特雷莎·梅在英国议会不信任投票表决中涉险过关

 

We have a report out of the United Kingdom to kick things off today. We told you on Wednesday how an agreement on Brexit, a plan for how Britain would leave the European Union failed. The deal was made between the EU and the Administration of British Prime Minister Teresa May but it needed to be approved by Britain's parliament first.

And British lawmakers voted against it. After that happened, the leader of Britain's Labor¹ Party which opposes the conservative party that's in power called for a no confidence vote in Prime Minister May's government. That could have led to major changes in Britain's leadership.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: In U.S. politics, when the president dies, resigns or is impeached², finding a replacement³ is straightforward⁴. The vice-president steps up, and after that the Speaker of the House. But in British politics, the rules are a lot more complicated. A prime minister can resign. But in the UK, if parliament or their own MPs aren't happy with their leadership, they can also be forced out. During World War II, even Winston Churchill survived two so-called votes of no confidence from parliament over his management of the war. And almost 50 years later, Margaret Thatcher⁵ was ousted⁶ from office by disgruntled MPs in her own party and she chose to resign.

In the UK, a PM's own political party chooses a successor. And each has a different way of doing that. Conservative MPs elect two candidates from a choice of MPs who put themselves forwards. Then, the public membership of the party votes for the winner. However, most Brits aren't registered members of the political party. Unlike the conservatives, in the Labor Party, once candidates are endorsed⁷ by Labor parliamentarians, registered members from the general public have as much say as politicians. Members vote, and if one candidate wins 50 percent of the ballots⁸, then they win the election. If no one does, then the least popular candidate is eliminated and voters' second preferences are considered until one candidate holds 50 percent of the votes. This allows unexpected choices for party leader — like Jeremy Corbyn, a far left candidate. He was elected to head labor in 2015 after a groundswell of popular support.

Parliamentary rules means that if this new leader can form a new government within two weeks, he or she can hold on to the PM seat. This is how Teresa May came to power after David Cameron resigned in 2016. But before they officially become PM, the Royal family does have a say. This is the United Kingdom, after all. The prime minister serves at the pleasure of the monarch⁹. So before the PM can move into number 10 Downing Street, the official residence, they pop by Buckingham Palace to request the Queen's blessing¹⁰ to form an official government. And with that, the UK has a new PM.

CARL AZUZ: But the vote held in the British government on Wednesday confirmed that May still has the confidence of lawmakers. In December, she won a confidence vote within her own conservative party. This week, the bigger House of Commons — which includes hundreds more lawmakers from several more parties — voted in favor of Prime Minister May's government staying in power. The count was 325 to 306. The nation's leaders still has the immense challenge of figuring out Brexit, but she also gets to keep her job as the person to do it and to lead Britain.

1 labor   

n.劳动，努力，工作，劳工；分娩；vi.劳动，努力，苦干；vt.详细分析；麻烦

参考例句：

• We are never late in satisfying him for his labor.我们从不延误付给他劳动报酬。
• He was completely spent after two weeks of hard labor.艰苦劳动两周后，他已经疲惫不堪了。

2 impeached   

v.控告（某人）犯罪( impeach的过去式和过去分词 )；弹劾；对（某事物）怀疑；提出异议

参考例句：

• Elected officials can be impeached. 经过选举产生的官员可以被弹劾。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The judge was impeached for taking a bribe. 这个法官被检举接受贿赂。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

3 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。

4 straightforward   

adj.正直的，坦率的；易懂的，简单的

参考例句：

• A straightforward talk is better than a flowery speech.巧言不如直说。
• I must insist on your giving me a straightforward answer.我一定要你给我一个直截了当的回答。

5 thatcher   

n.茅屋匠

参考例句：

• Tom Sawyer was in the skiff that bore Judge Thatcher. 汤姆 - 索亚和撒切尔法官同乘一条小艇。 来自英汉文学 - 汤姆历险
• Mrs. Thatcher was almost crazed; and Aunt Polly, also. 撒切尔夫人几乎神经失常，还有波莉姨妈也是。 来自英汉文学 - 汤姆历险

6 ousted   

驱逐( oust的过去式和过去分词 )； 革职； 罢黜； 剥夺

参考例句：

• He was ousted as chairman. 他的主席职务被革除了。
• He may be ousted by a military takeover. 他可能在一场军事接管中被赶下台。

7 endorsed   

vt.& vi.endorse的过去式或过去分词形式v.赞同( endorse的过去式和过去分词 )；在（尤指支票的）背面签字；在（文件的）背面写评论；在广告上说本人使用并赞同某产品

参考例句：

• The committee endorsed an initiative by the chairman to enter discussion about a possible merger. 委员会通过了主席提出的新方案，开始就可能进行的并购进行讨论。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The government has broadly endorsed a research paper proposing new educational targets for 14-year-olds. 政府基本上支持建议对14 岁少年实行新教育目标的研究报告。 来自《简明英汉词典》

8 ballots   

n.投票表决( ballot的名词复数 )；选举；选票；投票总数v.（使）投票表决( ballot的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• They're counting the ballots. 他们正在计算选票。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The news of rigged ballots has rubbed off much of the shine of their election victory. 他们操纵选票的消息使他们在选举中获得的胜利大为减色。 来自《简明英汉词典》

9 monarch   

n.帝王，君主，最高统治者

参考例句：

• The monarch's role is purely ceremonial.君主纯粹是个礼仪职位。
• I think myself happier now than the greatest monarch upon earth.我觉得这个时候比世界上什么帝王都快乐。

10 blessing   

n.祈神赐福；祷告；祝福，祝愿

参考例句：

• The blessing was said in Hebrew.祷告用了希伯来语。
• A double blessing has descended upon the house.双喜临门。