The SNP, Liberal Democrats, Plaid Cymru and the Greens have tabled a vote of no confidence in the UK government.
It follows an amendment from the opposition parties to Labour’s no confidence motion in the Prime Minister on Monday. The motion was not given parliamentary time by the UK Government.
SNP Westminster Leader Ian Blackford MP met with Vince Cable, Liz Saville Roberts and Caroline Lucas on Tuesday and a joint decision was taken to put forward the vote of no confidence in the names of the opposition leaders.
The decision comes after constant pressure on Labour Leader Jeremy Corbyn to table a motion of no confidence in the UK Government under the Fixed Term Parliaments Act, which the Labour Leader has failed to do.
Commenting, Ian Blackford MP said: “Opposition leaders have taken the decision to table a vote of no confidence in the UK government under the Fixed Term Parliaments Act – something Jeremy Corbyn has failed to do.
“Labour has failed to hold the UK government to account over their shambolic Brexit negotiations. Their motion of no confidence in the Prime Minister on Monday was a gimmick – we attempted to strengthen it with our own amendment and it’s regrettable it was not offered time for debate in parliament.
“By tabling our motion on Tuesday evening, we hope to be afforded time by the UK government to debate it before Parliament closes for the Christmas recess.
“It is clear the Prime Minister’s tactic has been to run down the clock and deprive parliament of any alternative to her deal. Jeremy Corbyn seems happy to let her – presumably to avoid having to make a decision on a second EU referendum. This is not acceptable and people deserve better.
“We want this motion to succeed but if it doesn’t, Labour’s only excuse for not backing a second referendum will be removed. We can then all get on with building a majority for that vote.
“Either way, if the official opposition won’t do its job, the real opposition will.”
Founding Editor of The Edinburgh Reporter.
Edinburgh-born multimedia journalist and iPhoneographer.
