London: UK Prime Minister Theresa May won parliamentary approval for her legislative program after being forced into a concession on abortion rights to stave off a potential defeat.
Her Brexit-dominated agenda for the next two years won the backing of the House of Commons on Thursday by 323 votes to 309.
Earlier, the government defeated two amendments from opposition lawmakers that sought to soften the UK's departure from the European Union and end austerity measures.
The vote means May has passed the first test of her new, tentative alliance with Northern Ireland's Democratic Unionist Party.
After this month's election stripped the Conservatives of their majority, May was forced to make a deal that leaves her reliant on 10 DUP lawmakers to win votes on key issues.
May's weaknesses were on display after Chancellor of the Exchequer Philip Hammond offered to fund abortions for women in Northern Ireland to avoid getting shot down on the issue.
There are stricter limitations on abortion rights in Northern Ireland, unlike the rest of the UK, and some Tories supported an amendment to give Northern Irish women free abortions in England.
A vote threatened to expose cracks in the working arrangement between May's party and the anti-abortion DUP.
But the last-minute concession led to the withdrawal of the amendment, avoiding a potential fallout in the relationship with the biggest party in Northern Ireland.
However, it also showed how vulnerable May is politically, and how quickly she can capitulate when under pressure.
