No Confidence Vote If No Brexit Deal?
Sir Keir Starmer, the Labour Party’s spokesperson on Brexit, announced that a vote of no confidence in Prime Minister Theresa May could be on the table in the event that the Brexit deal falls through.
However, Sir Keir Starmer clarified to members of Labour’s parliamentary party that he is confident that the parliament will be able to avert a no-deal scenario. The option for the party to stage a vote for an early election would constitute as a necessary action.
“It would be politically unsustainable for any government to deliver a no deal without the consent of parliament,” Starmer told MPs. “There will be opportunities to make the majority against a ‘no deal’ heard. Motions will be tabled, amendments will be pressed and a no-confidence vote can be triggered.”
Labour is confident that a majority of MPs would not support a no deal and the nation would be in chaos if May’s final deal gets rejected.
“If Theresa May’s deal fails to command the support of parliament, then we will not stand back and allow her to take this country off a cliff.” Starmer said.
PM May has been trying to ward off a coup after the number of backbenchers calling publicly for a no-confidence vote in her leadership increased to 23.
Rebellious MPs believe that they can meet the required threshold of 48 letters to Sir Graham Brady, the chairman of the party’s 1922 Committee.
Adam Holloway, one of the MPs demanding a vote, said his letter had been delivered “with regret”. But, complaining about May’s Brexit plans, he added: “You cannot have someone leading a mission who does not believe in the mission. The country needs leadership.”
Labour has been very vocal about voting against May’s deal and if the Prime Minister fails to have it approved by parliament, it would resort to forcing a general election.
However they would need the backing of Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) – a unionist political party in Northern Ireland which does not trust Labour.
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