IAN Blackford has accused the Prime Minister of running scared of defeat in Parliament by denying time to a motion of no confidence in her government.
THE SNP’s Westminster leader made the comments after he joined with the leaders of other opposition parties to table a motion of no confidence in the UK Government.
Jeremy Corbyn has been urged by the SNP, LibDems, Plaid Cymru and the Greens to put down the motion.
Under parliamentary convention May would have to make time in the Commons for a no-confidence motion in the Government to be heard if it is tabled by Labour as the official opposition. However, she is not bound to this rule if the motion is lodged by the smaller parties.
Labour have said they want to wait until after May’s Brexit deal come back to the Commons for a vote in the third week of January when it faces defeat.
However, a failure to win that no-confidence vote could create a challenge for Corbyn over whether or not to back a second EU referendum – an issue he is personally against but which splits his shadow cabinet.
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Speaking at PMQs yesterday, Blackford highlighted the motion of no confidence in the Government he and the other party leaders had lodged and added: “When the official opposition fail to step up, the real opposition to this Tory government will step in. The Prime Minister is now running scared and denying time for our motion for fear of the result. Is the Prime Minister so frightened of defeat that she will deny Parliament another vote?”
May responded that Parliament will have a meaningful vote on the Brexit deal, before going on to attack the Scottish Government income tax proposals, which do not see the higher rate threshold rise to £50,000 as under the Westminster policy.
Earlier at PMQs Corbyn demanded to know when May will meet EU leaders to get their approval for changes to her Brexit plan.
At PMQs, he asked: “She’s now claiming she’s still seeking further assurances while all the time running down the clock on the alternatives. So can she explain to us when the European Council will meet to approve the changes they have already ruled out?”
May dodged the question, instead attacking Corbyn for his lack of an alternative to her Brexit deal.
“Week after week he has stood here on this issue and talked about what he is against. He never says what he is for.” she said. “He can talk all he likes about a meaningful vote – after he gives us a meaningful position.”
Corbyn told May the next meeting of the European Council was not until March – two months after the rescheduled meaningful vote is supposed to take place.
He said: “She will be bringing back the same deal she pulled last week – it’s an intolerable situation and she is simply playing for time.”
May said her “achievements” with EU negotiators would be set out in the new year and again insisted Corbyn had no alternative Brexit deal.
She said: “I know it’s Christmas and he has looked in his stocking, down the chimney, under the Christmas tree, but he still has not found a Brexit plan.
“He has to accept his responsibility for delivering on Brexit.”
Tory Remainer Sarah Wollaston asked May to rule out no deal for the sake of NHS emergency and social care staff.
The Totnes MP said: “Imagine how many more could be employed if we weren’t haemorrhaging billions preparing for a disastrous no deal.
“Will the Prime Minister end the uncertainty by ruling out no deal?”
May said a simple way to ensure that the no-deal scenario does not arise was for MPs to back her deal.
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