Britain's May survives no-confidence vote by lawmakers

Embattled British Prime Minister Theresa May survived a no-confidence vote launched by the Conservative Party that would have likely ousted her as the country's leader, at a 200-to-117 vote threshold,

If she lost, May would have been removed as the party and country leader. Instead, lawmakers will be unable to challenge May's leadership for another year.

According to the Associated Press, of the more than 300 ballots cast, May needed a majority vote -- at least 159 -- to keep her seat. She signaled ahead of the vote that she would step down by 2022, meaning she won't lead them into the next election.

"A change of leadership in the Conservative Party now will put our country's future at risk," May said in a statement outside 10 Downing St.

The announcement of a vote came amid the UK’s controversial plan to eixt the European Union, which is set to officially take place on March 29.

The challenge from lawmakers comes one day after May postponed a key vote to approve a divorce deal with the EU to avoid all-but-certain defeat. This week, she'll go to Brussels in a final attempt to make the Brexit deal more palatable to Parliament.

The Associated Press contributed to this article.