Lib Dems urge Jeremy Corbyn to accept he’ll ‘never’ be caretaker PM as plot to oust Boris Johnson erupts into acrimony
AN OPPOSITION plot to boot out Boris Johnson exploded into acrimony tonight as the Lib Dems urged Jeremy Corbyn to accept he’ll “never” be caretaker PM.
Jo Swinson is expected to use a meeting tomorrow to demand he make way for someone more “acceptable” to the Commons – such as Labour veteran Margaret Beckett.
And sources close to the SNP leaders pushing for a No Confidence vote this week accepted some MPs within their own Scot Nats party don’t believe it’s the best tactic.
They fear that collapsing the Government now could help Mr Johnson to take Britain out of the EU without a deal on October 31.
Leaders of the so-called Remain Alliance are due to meet in Jeremy Corbyn’s office tomorrow to discuss tactics for thwarting Mr Johnson and tightening up legislation blocking a No Deal.
The SNP’s Stewart Hosie this weekend suggested a No Confidence vote could come this week – saying the party was ready to back Mr Corbyn as PM for a short period to delay Brexit.
But senior Lib Dem insiders today rubbished the idea given their fears about Mr Corbyn and their belief he cannot command a majority.
“Other people in the party know the numbers aren’t there. The job now is to get Jeremy Corbyn to appreciate it.”
Tory sources also said Philip Hammond and other Tory ‘rebels’ would never back the Labour leader.
And Change UK’s Chris Leslie vowed to oppose him – telling The Sun: “I have a policy of never allowing Marxists into No.10.”
‘A DISASTER’
Critically, friends of Amber Rudd tonight said she would back Margaret Beckett as a caretaker if the Tories were ousted. Both Ken Clarke and Harriet Harman have previously been mooted as a caretaker of a cross-party government.
If Boris Johnson loses a No Confidence vote, the Opposition would have 14 days to try to form an alternative government.
The PM refused to say whether he would instruct Tory MPs to BACK a No Confidence vote in his desperation to have an Election.
One Labour source said the SNP were desperate to appear to be “leading from the front” in ousting Mr Johnson ahead of their own party conference this coming weekend.
They said: “The SNP want to be seen to be leading on this. But there are splits in their own party. We think it’s just them trying to look strong and playing to their members.
“The sensible ones know it’s crazy to go now.”
DUP chief Arlene Foster said the Ulster unionists would back Mr Johnson in any confidence vote. And she slammed the idea of Jeremy Corbyn taking over.
Speaking at the fringes of the Tory conference she said: “Looking at the alternatives, putting Jeremy Corbyn into government is not something the Democratic Unionist Party will ever be accused of.
The Sun Says
ALMOST half of all voters would take the potential turbulence of No Deal over a Corbyn Government.
That’s hardly surprising. No Deal troubles would be temporary. Marxism could destroy Britain for generations.
Labour’s conference announcements were a toxic mix of economic madness, blinkered ideology and spiteful score-settling. Their eco plans alone could cost trillions.
Any sane person would take the risks of a clean Brexit over certain poverty.
“He would be a disaster for Northern Ireland, he will be a disaster for the United Kingdom in terms of the economy and in terms of defence and security.
“And as for Northern Ireland, he would be a complete disaster because as my deputy leader reminded the House last week, talking about the rule of law when he supported a party who were quite happy to see judges killed in Northern Ireland is quit something.”
She added: “I do find a it a little strange when I hear the SNP are supporting a government of national unity.”
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