May urges rivals in parliament to come forward with ideas

British Prime Minister Theresa May in a speech on Tuesday urged rival political parties to participate rather than just criticize her government.

A year since she set out her vision on the steps of 10 Downing Street after becoming prime minister, May now leads a minority government, shored up by a deal with the Democratic Unionist Party of Northern Ireland.

May addressed a meeting at the Royal Society of Arts in London to offer her support for a report outlining a massive shake up of working practices as a response to the growing emergence of a so-called gig economy where millions of people work on zero-hours contracts.

She also used the opportunity to reinforce her determination in carrying on with the program she outlined last July when she set out her defining characteristics of the Conservative government she was determined to lead.

Some political commentators described her highly anticipated speech as a re-launch or fight-back after May lost her majority in the June 8 election.

In a message directed at the other political parties at Westminster, May said when she commissioned the report into working practices she led a majority government in the House of Commons.

"The reality I now face as prime minister is rather different," said May, adding: "It will be even more important to make the case for our policies and our values, and to win the battle of ideas both in parliament as well as in the country."

"So I say to the other parties in the House of Commons -- come forward with your own views and ideas about how we can tackle these challenges as a country," May added in her plea: "We may not agree on everything, but through debate and discussion -- the hallmarks of our parliamentary democracy -- ideas can be clarified and improved and a better way forward found."

She added: "At this critical time in our history, we can either be timid or we can be bold. We can play it safe or we can strike out with renewed courage and vigor, making the case for our ideas and values and challenging our opponents to contribute, not just criticize."

source: xinhua