LONDON — British Prime Minister Theresa May’s Conservative minority government secured lawmakers’ backing for its legislative plans by a narrow margin Thursday, but only after making a sudden concession on abortion funding to stave off defeat.

The House of Commons voted by 323 to 309 to approve last week’s Queen’s Speech, which laid out the government’s agenda for the next two years.

The slimmed-down package jettisoned several policy pledges made by the Conservatives before Britain’s June 8 election, which saw May’s party humiliatingly stripped of its parliamentary majority.

Rejection of its plans would have been a major — and possibly fatal — blow to May’s already weakened administration, which struck a deal with Northern Ireland’s Democratic Unionist Party this week to make sure it can win key votes.

Fearing defeat on an opposition amendment, ministers said they would pay for women from Northern Ireland to travel to England for abortions. Abortion is banned in Northern Ireland unless a woman’s life or mental health is in danger.

Associated Press