Sturgeon calls on Corbyn to back motion of no confidence in May’s Government
Jeremy Corbyn has been urged to back a motion of no confidence in the Government tabled by the smaller opposition parties at Westminster.
Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said the Labour leader’s refusal to table his own motion aimed at bringing down the Government was an “excuse” to avoid having to clarify his own position on Brexit policy.
The SNP, Liberal Democrats, Plaid Cymru and the Greens tabled a vote of no confidence in the UK Government following a meeting on Tuesday evening.
They said the decision follows constant pressure on Mr Corbyn to table a motion of no confidence in the UK Government under the Fixed Term Parliaments Act, which he has not done.
Ms Sturgeon said: “It’s beyond me why Jeremy Corbyn seems to be one of the last remaining people that still has confidence in this Tory Government.”
Speaking to reporters in Downing Street following a meeting with Theresa May, Ms Sturgeon said the cross-party motion offered the opportunity to “get rid of this sorry, incompetent, Tory government”.
She added “If it doesn’t pass, it removes Jeremy Corbyn’s excuse for not making up his mind on a second EU referendum.
“It looks to me right now as if he is trying to run the clock down and avoid difficult decisions just as much as the Prime Minister is.
“We don’t have time to waste, so I hope Labour come behind this motion of no confidence and we can try to bring this Government down, but if we can’t do that then at least we can pave the way to a second referendum that offers a way out of this mess.”
SNP Westminster leader Ian Blackford MP met with Liberal Democrat leader Vince Cable, Plaid Cymru MP Liz Saville Roberts and Green MP Caroline Lucas on Tuesday and they took a joint decision to put forward a vote of no confidence in the names of the opposition leaders.
Mr Blackford said: “Labour has failed to hold the UK Government to account over their shambolic Brexit negotiations.”
It is understood the Government only has to give time to motions tabled in the name of the Leader of the Opposition.
Plaid Cymru Westminster leader Ms Saville Roberts added: “Labour may be the ‘official’ opposition, but this is what real opposition looks like.”
A Scottish Labour spokesman said: “The SNP seem more interested in Labour’s parliamentary tactics than in the Tory government’s botched Brexit deal, and they have made it clear they do not expect, or even want, this motion to pass. It suits the SNP to keep the Tories in power, with all the chaos and instability that will bring.
“We have said we will not table a motion like this for the purpose of it being defeated, we will do it when we judge it most likely to be successful.
“MPs on all sides are furious that Theresa May is running scared of bringing her deal to the Commons and Labour is demanding a vote on this as soon as possible.”
