Matthew Taylor

Sunday shows round-up: Corbyn promises a no confidence motion ‘soon’

Jeremy Corbyn: Labour will table vote of no confidence motion ‘soon’

The week ahead promises to be full of drama, with the long awaited ‘meaningful vote’ on Theresa May’s Brexit deal scheduled to take place on Tuesday. The current prognosis does not look good for the Prime Minister, who is still struggling to muster adequate support. This morning, the Leader of the Opposition sat down with Andrew Marr to discuss what course of action he would be taking:

AM: If [May] does lose that vote, do you immediately put down a vote of no confidence in the government?

JC: We will table a motion of no confidence in the government at a time of our choosing. But it’s going to be soon, don’t worry about it.

Corbyn hinted that if the vote of confidence went his way, and if Labour found itself in government as a result, he would extend the Article 50 process, as the alternative would leave ‘only a few weeks’ for fresh negotiations with the EU. He told Marr, ‘we’re campaigning for a customs union… and we would want to have a say in all of those trade deals that are done’. When Marr challenged him on whether this was feasible Corbyn replied: ‘the EU is well known for its ability to be flexible’.

Corbyn sought to create a glimmer of hope for the pro-Remain wing of his party by refusing to commit himself to Brexit. Instead he told Marr, ‘we will decide our manifesto content as soon as we know there’s an election coming’. However, he said that he would prefer a ‘negotiated settlement’ and added ‘we will do everything we can to prevent a no deal exit’.

Stephen Barclay: ‘There is some movement’ on withdrawal agreement

Marr was also joined by the Brexit Secretary Stephen Barclay.

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