Have politicians behaved badly over Brexit? May gets on with the task but Corbyn snubs urgent Brexit talks
THERESA May last night vowed to honour “the solemn promise” made to voters to deliver Brexit as she crushed a Labour bid to bring down the Government.
The Prime Minister survived a confidence vote, launched by Labour in the wake of the devastating defeat of her EU exit deal, by 19 votes.
DUP MPs and the Tory rebels who had helped to inflict the brutal Brexit blow 24 hours earlier rallied to her defence as Jeremy Corbyn tried to force a general election.
After winning the vote, Mrs May told MPs: “I do not take this responsibility lightly and my Government will continue its work to increase our prosperity, guarantee our security and to strengthen our union.
“We will also continue to work to deliver on the solemn promise we made to the people of this country to deliver on the result of the referendum and leave the European Union.”
Mrs May had warned it would be a “national calamity” if the Labour leader moved into No 10.
The Prime Minister said forcing voters back to the ballot box would cause chaos and division at a time when the country needs unity and now “must finish the job” by delivering Brexit.
Mr Corbyn said the Prime Minister’s Brexit deal had been “decisively rejected” and she should “do the right thing and resign”.
But MP John Woodcock, who quit Labour last year, said “with a heavy heart” he could not support the no-confidence motion because Mr Corbyn is “unfit to lead the country”. Tory backbenchers accused the Labour leader of “shameless political opportunism” by trying to force an election instead of working to end the Brexit deadlock.
Former minister Anna Soubry told Mr Corbyn he was the “most hopeless Leader of the Opposition we’ve ever had”.
And Environment Secretary Michael Gove gave a passionate speech attacking Mr Corbyn’s record on defence and security, insisting “no way can this country ever allow that man to be our prime minister”.
Rallied
Mr Corbyn dodged questions over whether Labour would campaign on a manifesto that committed to Brexit or attempt to keep the country in the EU.
Conservative former minister George Freeman accused him of pushing for Remain in London and the South-east while suggesting he backs Brexit in the North.
Conservative backbenchers rallied behind the embattled Prime Minister, cheering and stamping their feet as she fought to save her Government.
Mrs May told the Commons that it had promised to abide by the referendum result.
Another general election would harm the country, she warned.
“It would deepen division when we need unity, it would bring chaos when we need certainty, and it would bring delay when we need to move forward, so I believe this House should reject this motion,” she said.
“At this crucial moment in our nation’s history, a general election is simply not in the national interest.”
Mr Corbyn later refused the Prime Minister’s offer to hold urgent talks with her to try to find a way through the Brexit stalemate.
Senior figures from the smaller parties, including the Lib Dems, were expected to take part in discussions and Mrs May will meet Tory rebels today.