Labour in surprise U-turn as Jeremy Corbyn finally tables no confidence motion in Theresa May
3 min read
Jeremy Corbyn has finally tabled a motion of no confidence in Theresa May - barely two hours after apparently ditching the idea.
On a confusing day of Parliamentary tactics, Labour briefed journalists that Mr Corbyn would make the move if Theresa May refused to name a date for the meaningful vote on her Brexit deal.
But after the Prime Minister told MPs during a Commons statement that it would take place in the week beginning 14 January, Mr Corbyn appeared to have changed his mind and made no mention of it in his response.
Senior Labour figures - including Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell - then hailed Mrs May's announcement as a major victory, claiming Mr Corbyn had forced the Government's hand.
But in a surprise twist, the Labour leader announced at the end of the debate that he would be tabling the motion of no confidence after all.
He said: "I’ve listened very carefully to what members on all sides of the House have said and it’s very clear that it is very bad, unacceptable, that we should be waiting almost a month before we have a meaningful vote on the crucial issue facing the future of this country.
"The Prime Minister has refused to ensure that a vote took place on the date she agreed, she refuses to allow a vote to take place this week and is now I assume thinking the vote will be on the 14 January, almost a month away. This is unacceptable in anyway whatsoever."
The motion, which Mr Corbyn tabled immediately, read: "That this House has no confidence in the Prime Minister due to her failure to allow the House of Commons to have a meaningful vote straight away on the withdrawal agreement and framework for the future relationship between the UK and the European Union."
Unlike a motion of no confidence in the Government, the Labour leader's one is non-binding and has no power to remove Mrs May from Downing Street.
Under Parliamentary rules, it is up to the Government whether it makes time for Mr Corbyn's motion to be debated.
A Labour spokesperson said: "If the Prime Minister refuses to hold the vote tomorrow, it is clear that she does not believe she retains the confidence of this House."
A government source told PoliticsHome: "Not sure the sequence of events today entirely befits a government in waiting."
Mrs May last week survived a motion of confidence in her leadership of the Tory party by 200 votes ro 117.
Conservative MP Steve Baker, one of the Prime Minister's strongest critics, said: "Eurosceptic Conservatives are clear that we accept the democratic decision of our party to have confidence in Theresa May as PM. We will vote against Labour in any confidence motion."
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