If the amendment is adopted and the motion passed a general election could be triggered in 14 days
Lib Dem, SNP, Plaid Cymru and Green MPs have tabled a cross-party amendment to Jeremy Corbyn’s motion of no confidence in Theresa May that would extend the motion to expressing no confidence in the government as a whole.
Currently the motion put forward by the Labour leader only expresses no confidence in May, meaning it is not legally binding under Fixed Term Parliament Act and therefore would not automatically lead to a general election.
But, if successful, the amendment co-signed by Lib Dem leader Vince Cable, the SNP’s Ian Blackford, Plaid Cymru’s Liz Roberts and the Green’s Caroline Lucas would make the motion a fuller expression of confidence in the government.
If it was adopted and then the motion passed, it would mean a general election could be triggered in 14 days – providing a subsequent motion of confidence in the government could not be passed in that time frame.
The move follows Sky News reports that the government will not grant time in parliament for the motion of no confidence this week. If that is the case, then such a vote could only take place after the parliamentary recess that begins on Thursday and lasts into the new year.
However, a Labour spokesperson has said that the party want their tabled confidence vote to take place on Tuesday.
Though, even if it was to take place, it is unlikely that the motion would pass, with DUP MPs and members of the Tory Brexiteer European Research Group publicly backing the PM.
Labour are now clearly letting government off the hook. Working with others, @libdems have tabled an amendment to the @jeremycorbyn motion which would give it real teeth and bring a vote before MPs. Labour are running out of excuses. Their subterfuge on #peoplesvote must end. pic.twitter.com/VKOoUqsdch
— Vince Cable (@vincecable) December 17, 2018
Speaking in the Commons earlier today, 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.”
"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
However, co-signature of the amendment, Lib Dem leader Vince Cable, hit out at Corbyn saying he was “avoiding the responsibility of pushing a real motion of no confidence in the government”.
He said: “He seems more interested in installing a new Tory Prime Minister in Downing Street than in the General Election he keeps talking about.
“By contrast, our joint amendment shows what a real opposition would do. It will test MPs’ views on the real question and would remove every Labour excuse not to back a People’s Vote on the deal, with an option to remain in the European Union.”
