Jeremy Corbyn attacked Theresa May’s handling of the Brexit vote in the Commons
Jeremy Corbyn has announced his immediate intention to table a motion of no confidence in Theresa May, saying that putting off parliament’s Brexit vote until January is “unacceptable”.
Such a motion is different from a motion of no confidence in the entire government, which under Fixed Term Parliament Act could potentially lead to a general election, as it is not legally binding. However, losing such a vote would destabilise the prime minister and her government.
It is unclear when such a vote will take place, although a Labour spokesperson has clarified that the party want the vote to take place on Tuesday.
"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. It is unacceptable in any way whatsoever."
This is the moment @JeremyCorbyn announced he was tabling a motion of no confidence in @Theresa_May pic.twitter.com/sFrTMx79hP
— PoliticsJOE (@PoliticsJOE_UK) December 17, 2018
Speaking in the Commons following a statement made by the prime minister, Corbyn said: “I have listened very carefully to all of the answers the prime minister gave during this lengthy exchange today.
“I have listened very carefully to what members on all sides of the House have said and it’s very clear that it is that is very bad, unacceptable, to be waiting almost a month before we have a vote on the crucial issue facing the future of this country.
“The prime minister has obdurately refused to ensure 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.
“It is unacceptable in any way whatsoever.”
His motion reads: “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 future relationships between the UK and the European Union.”
The announcement came after Theresa May told parliament that the vote on her Brexit deal will take place in the New Year after it was postponed last week in order for the prime minister to hold further negotiations in Brussels.
May assured MPs that while there had been no renegotiation of the deal, the EU had made it clear the Irish backstop was “not a plot to trap the UK” and urged MPs to pass the agreement into law.
She said: “I can confirm we will return to the meaningful vote debate in the week beginning 7 January and hold the vote the following week.
“Avoiding ‘no deal’ is only possible if we can reach an agreement or if we abandon Brexit entirely.”
"This last week has embodied the failure, chaos and indecision at the heart of this government’s shambolic handling of Brexit"
Jeremy Corbyn slams Theresa May's handling of Brexit as she announces the parliament vote will now take place in the New Year pic.twitter.com/aGjSobDvyd
— PoliticsJOE (@PoliticsJOE_UK) December 17, 2018
