JEREMY Corbyn has tabled a motion of no confidence in Prime Minister Theresa May over her handling of the Brexit deal vote.
The Labour leader criticised May for not offering MPs a chance to have their say before Christmas, amid expectations the vote will take place in the week beginning January 14.
The vote on the Brexit deal was originally scheduled for December 11 before May postponed it.
Corbyn had already indicated he would table a motion of no-confidence in the Prime Minister if she failed to announce a date for the delayed "meaningful" vote - however, once she confirmed the date of January 14, the Labour leader's plan failed to come to fruition.
But this evening in the Commons, he changed his mind once more and announced the no-confidence vote in May.
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon reacted to the move, quizzing Corbyn on why he had chosen to table the motion in the PM, rather than in the Government itself.
Labour tabling a motion just in the PM rather than in the entire government begs the question, which Tory do they want to see as PM?
— Nicola Sturgeon (@NicolaSturgeon) December 17, 2018
MPs in her party have also slammed the decision to table such a motion, focusing on the fact it does not have to be debated immedietly in the Commons.
Shocking by Corbyn just now. They know a motion of no confidence in PM means nothing - it has to be a motion if no confidence in the government to have any effect. This is a shoddy stunt. People deserve better opposition than this.
— Tommy Sheppard MP (@TommySheppard) December 17, 2018
Tommy is spot on. This is more fiddling while Rome burns. End this cynical nonsense and bring forward a binding motion of no-confidence in the *government* https://t.co/8y5wilrsNM
— Stewart McDonald MP (@StewartMcDonald) December 17, 2018
The effect of Corbyn's motion in May is disputed, with Labour believing it would be a confidence motion under the procedures of the House.
It will be for the Government to determine whether to schedule time for debate on Corbyn's motion, according to the House of Commons authorities.
Commons Speaker John Bercow said Corbyn's point of order required no response from him but was on the record.
May left the chamber after the Labour leader raised the motion.
Bercow later confirmed he would be "happy to chair debates over Christmas" if MPs gather enough support to pass a motion to restart the Brexit debate.
He was replying to veteran former minister Frank Field, who asked if there was "a way of moving to a vote" on May's agreement after the Government postponed the debate last week.
Bercow said it was "always possible to table a motion in this House", but added he was neither "exhorting" nor "discouraging" the independent MP to do so.
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