LABOUR leader Jeremy Corbyn has tabled a vote of no confidence in the Tory government following Prime Minister Theresa May’s Brexit defeat.
MPs voted 432 to 202 to reject the deal, the 230-vote loss representing the largest Commons defeat by a sitting government.
However despite voting against the deal tonight, the DUP indicated its 10 MPs are likely to back the Prime Minister when the motion is debated tomorrow.
Tabling the motion after what he described as a ‘catastrophic defeat’, Corbyn said the Prime Minister had been unable to secure a deal after two years of failure.
'Take no deal off table'
“Labour had laid out our priorities consistently: no deal must be taken off the table, a permanent customs union must be secured and people’s rights and protections must be guaranteed so they don’t fall behind,” he said
“Businesses begged her to negotiate a comprehensive customs union, trade union leaders pressed her for the same thing. They were ignored,” he added.
“In the last two years, she has only had one priority: the Conservative Party.
“Her governing principle of delay and denial has reached the end of the line.
“She cannot seriously believe that after two years of failure, she is capable of negotiating a good deal for the people of this country.”
Those opposed to the Prime Minister’s deal included 118 MPs from her own party, as well as the DUP’s 10 MPs.
However party leader Arlene Foster indicated they would back the Prime Minister in tomorrow’s vote, saying they ‘will work with the Government constructively to achieve a better deal’.
'Unmistakable message'
“The House of Commons has sent an unmistakable message to the Prime Minister and the European Union that this deal is rejected,” she said.
“Mrs May will now be able to demonstrate to the Brussels’ negotiators that changes are required if any deal is to command the support of Parliament.
“We will work with the Government constructively to achieve a better deal. That is our focus.
“Whilst some may wish to use this defeat to boost their political ambitions, we will give the Government the space to set out a plan to secure a better deal.”
She added: “We want an orderly exit from the European Union with a sensible deal which works for Northern Ireland and the rest of the United Kingdom.”
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