Labour calls General Election vote which could bring down Theresa May within 24 hours and overturn Brexit completely
THERESA May could be gone as Prime Minister within 24 hours after Labour tabled a vote of no confidence over her mammoth Brexit defeat.
The PM attempted to outflank Jeremy Corbyn by effectively calling a vote of no confidence in the Government in the wake of her defeat by 432 to 202.
After the Labour leader formally tabled the motion, it was confirmed MPs will vote on whether or not to kick the Government out of power at 7pm tomorrow – which would trigger a General Election likely to take place just weeks before Brexit.
Mrs May is likely to win tomorrow’s confidence vote after the DUP confirmed they will continue to back her as PM despite opposing her Brexit strategy.
If two thirds of MPs vote in favour of a motion which reads “This House has no confidence in Her Majesty’s Government” then there’s 14 days for the Government to pass one in favour.
If that doesn’t happen, a general election could be sparked.
But it’s not likely for a no-confidence vote to go though, because Labour still doesn’t have the backing of the Northern Irish party, the DUP.
The last time there was a formal no-confidence motion tabled in Commons was 1993 – John Major called it in himself, and won by 40 votes.
And the last time a PM lost a no-confidence motion was in 1979 when Jim Callaghan lost by one vote, triggering the General Election that brought Maggie Thatcher to power.
Speaking in the Commons before the vote, Mrs May insisted that scrapping Brexit would be a betrayal of Leave voters – but claimed that No Deal would also fail to honour the 2016 referendum result.
Earlier a Brexiteer amendment designed to junk the backstop was defeated by a margin of 600 votes to 24.
As the PM faces the darkest moment of her career:
- Theresa May suffered the biggest ever defeat of any modern government when her deal was thrown out by 432 votes to 202
- She went on to call a vote of confidence in her OWN government – backed up by Jeremy Corbyn
- MPs will tomorrow vote on whether to boot the PM out of office, which could spark another election just weeks before Brexit
- But the no confidence vote isn’t likely to succeed as the DUP and ERG sources said they would back her
- The PM will open cross-party talks tomorrow with senior MPs to find a way to push her deal through
- Boris Johnson backed the PM and told her she must go back to Brussels and re-open the deal as soon as she can
- EU leaders said the deal was the best on offer – but have NOT ruled out re-opening talks
Speaking minutes before the vote Mrs May said: “Tonight we will determine whether we move forward with a withdrawal agreement that honours the vote and sets us on course for a better future.
“This is a historic decision that will set our future for generations. We can decide it’s all too difficult and give up – but I believe we have a duty to deliver on the democratic decision of the British people.”
Blasting the idea of a No Deal Brexit, Mrs May added: “I don’t believe that’s what the British people voted for.”
Today she was offered a lifeline from Germany as the country’s foreign minister said that talks COULD be re-opened if her deal is thrown out.
Meanwhile, Labour’s Sir Keir said today that MPs MUST start discussing a second Brexit referendum – raising hopes among campaigners that the party could back another vote.
He said that politicians in Parliament should start discussing alternatives for what should happen next.
How will this all end? Brexit outcomes explained
GENERAL ELECTION
The PM will face a no confidence vote tomorrow. But the DUP have already vowed to back her in it.
So it’s pretty unlikely it will pass, leaving Labour red-faced yet again.
HOW LIKELY? 1/5
GOING SOFT
A cross-party group of MPs are frantically pushing an alternative Soft Brexit plan which could replace Mrs May’s deal.
It would be welcomed by big business – but Brexit voters would be unhappy because it would mean Britain accepting open borders, and following European rules without a say.
HOW LIKELY? 3/5
HARD AS NAILS
Most of the Tory Brexiteers who oppose the PM’s deal want her to return to Brussels and strike a tougher line.
But Eurocrats currently insist it’s impossible to re-open negotiations.
HOW LIKELY? 2/5
REFERENDUM RE-RUN
Dozens of MPs are hell-bent on forcing Mrs May to hold a second referendum so Britain can stay in the EU.
Yet without the support of the Government it’s unlikely the second vote could become a reality.
HOW LIKELY? 3/5
DEAL OR NO DEAL?
If Mrs May cannot pass a deal, the legal default is that we will leave the EU without a deal on March 29.
Despite the legal position, the majority of MPs insist they will take any measure necessary to rule out No Deal.
HOW LIKELY? 4/5
MAY TRIUMPHS – EVENTUALLY
Cabinet ministers remain adamant that a version of Theresa May’s plan will eventually pass the Commons, even after losing tonight.
They believe sceptical MPs will lose their nerve as Brexit Day approaches – terrified of either No Deal or a second referendum.
HOW LIKELY? 3/5
The Shadow Brexit boss said today: “In the end it comes down really to: is there going to be a general election?
“That is one option. Is there some form of deal that people can coalesce around or should there be a public vote or a second referendum?
“We need to create the space for that discussion about the credible alternatives.”
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