MPs have ruled out a proposal to call a vote of no confidence in the Government this week, as opposition parties continue to disagree about the best way forward in their bid to prevent a no-deal Brexit.
Speaking after a cross-party meeting on Monday of what The Telegraph calls the “rebel alliance”, Jeremy Corbyn said that he would only back a confidence motion “at a point we can win it and take no-deal off the table”.
Meanwhile, Scottish National Party leader Ian Blackford insisted his party was keen to push for an early no-confidence vote, while the Green’s Caroline Lucas said all opposition parties were “united about stopping no-deal”.
However, Lib Dem leader Jo Swinson is vetoing a plan – backed by the other parties – to install Corbyn as a temporary prime minister if Boris Johnson is defeated in a vote of confidence.
The Commons passed a law earlier this month forcing Johnson to request a Brexit extension if a Brexit deal hasn’t been agreed by Parliament by 19 October.
But it is yet to be seen whether the Government will comply with the law. This week Chancellor Sajid Javid has echoed the PM’s claims that a no-deal Brexit “may well happen” on the existing Halloween deadline, despite the Benn Act making that unlawful.
Corbyn has warned that the opposition parties were “absolutely clear we will do all we can within a parliamentary scenario and within our own parties to prevent this country crashing out on 31 October without a deal – that is what is our agreed position”.
So is a no-confident vote likely to be called in the coming month?
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
For more political analysis – and a concise, refreshing and balanced take on the week’s news agenda – try The Week magazine. Get your first six issues free
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
How does a confidence motion work?
Any MP can propose a no-confidence motion in a PM, but there is no guarantee their request will be granted.
However, if the leader of the opposition – currently Labour’s Corbyn – requests the motion then the government is compelled by convention to make time for a confidence debate, says the BBC.
A no-confidence motion is worded: “That this House has no confidence in Her Majesty’s government.”
It only needs a simple majority to pass, unlike the two-thirds majority required for a PM to call an election.
If the government wins then it carries on as before – but the current government can’t be sure of winning because it is short of a majority in the Commons.
What happens if the government loses?
If the government fails to get a majority and loses the vote, it has 14 days to try to win the confidence of MP through a second vote. But at the same time, opposition MPs can attempt to form an alternative government.
If the government can’t command the confidence of the house, and another candidate can’t win majority support to become PM, a general election is automatically called after 14 days.
The PM then advises the Queen on the date that the general election will take place and Parliament is dissolved five weeks before election day.
There is nothing in law that says the PM must legally step down if they lose a no-confidence motion – it is up to the Queen to appoint and dismiss the country’s leader.
Why are Labour shying off?
Corbyn says that while Labour wants to introduce a no-confidence motion in Johnson, it will only do so when the threat of a no-deal Brexit is removed.
There are fears that Johnson could exploit the chaos in the aftermath of a successful no-confidence motion to push through no-deal at the end of October.
There is nothing preventing the PM from scheduling a general election day for November, after the UK has already left the EU by default on that deadline.
Ruling out a confidence vote for the time being, Lib Dem leader Swinson said: “What is clear is that it is important this week we don’t go for a precipitous vote of no-confidence motion. It’s understood that, if anything, that would just increase the risk of no deal, and therefore play into Boris Johnson’s hands.”
