NICOLA Sturgeon has urged fellow opposition parties at Westminster to join forces with the SNP to make their move and kick Boris Johnson out of power.
The First Minister has backed the installation of Jeremy Corbyn as a caretaker prime minister following the ousting of Johnson and his Government through a vote of no confidence.
The First Minister tweeted yesterday saying she agreed with installing the Labour leader, or another candidate, as temporary PM, later clarifying she is “open minded” about who takes the post. She agreed a caretaker prime minister needs to be appointed following no-confidence vote. He or she would then secure a Brexit extension, before calling an immediate General Election.
Despite the support from the SNP, a vote of no confidence in the UK Government would still need to win over the other opposition parties, and the 23 MPs expelled by the Tories. The Liberal Democrats have said “the numbers don’t add up” for Corbyn to take over as prime minister.
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In response to a tweet making the suggestion, the First Minister said: “Agree with this. VONC (vote of no confidence), opposition unites around someone for sole purpose of securing an extension, and then immediate General Election. Nothing is risk free but leaving Johnson in post to force through No Deal – or even a bad deal – seems like a terrible idea to me.”
Prime Minister Boris Johnson has maintained the UK will leave the EU on October 31, with or without a deal. The Benn Act, passed in Westminster earlier this month, instructs the PM to request an extension to the deadline until the end of January if no deal is agreed, but that is something Johnson has repeatedly said he will not do.
Sturgeon later tweeted: “The point I’m making is not really about who it should be – I’m open minded on that – more that the opposition needs to unite behind a plan and act.”
A spokesman for the SNP said: “The SNP have led the way in ensuring Brexit can be stopped and in bringing Parliament back into action after the Tories sought to shut down UK democracy. We will continue to work with all opposition MPs to stop a No-Deal Brexit and call a General Election to remove this dangerous and undemocratic Prime Minister as soon as possible.
“It is now possible – if the political will is there – that parties could come together to ensure that the letter to secure an extension is not left in the hands of Boris Johnson and his cronies, who are determined to find a way to get around the Benn Act, but is instead sent by a temporary caretaker Prime Minister, who would be in office only as long as is necessary to send the letter, with an election held immediately afterwards.
“We remain open to all options to achieve the aim of stopping a No-Deal Brexit and getting rid of Boris Johnson.”
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The Scottish LibDem spokeswoman for constitutional relations Wendy Chamberlain said: “We need a plan that has a whiff of a chance of working. Liberal Democrats will back a temporary government to stop a No-Deal Brexit but that cannot be led by the divisive Jeremy Corbyn.
“The numbers don’t add up. Even Nicola Sturgeon has said that she doesn’t trust him.
“Jo Swinson [the LibDem leader] is working hard across parties to build a majority at Westminster to stop the damage of Brexit. Anyone who wants to keep Scotland in the UK and the UK in the EU should vote for the Liberal Democrats.”
Critics are concerned Johnson will ignore the Benn Act compelling the extension, but Johnson insists he wants to secure a new deal with Brussels. Fears have been heightened by the Supreme Court judgment that the PM’s prorogation of Parliament as the deadline looms was unlawful.
Sir John Major warned Johnson could look to circumvent the terms of the Benn Act by using Privy Council privilege to suspend it until after October 31 without involving the Queen. Downing Street said it did not “recognise” those fears.
Plaid Cymru are also willing to back Corbyn. Opposition leaders working against a No Deal will again meet on Monday.
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