Abbott: We will call no-confidence

A confidence vote in Boris Johnson will be put forward once Labour believes it can win it, according to Diane Abbott.

The shadow home secretary said it was “above my pay grade” to confirm whether the Opposition’s bid to test MPS’ level of support for the Prime Minister would take place immediately after Parliament returns in early September.

But she confirmed talks are taking place with other parties in Parliament after claiming Mr Johnson’s “bogus unfunded announcements” on law and order, among others, are costing him support.

It means a Commons showdown is now certain when MPS return after their summer break in three weeks’ time, with Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn having already said Labour will bring an “early” vote of confidence in Mr Johnson with a view to derailing a no-deal Brexit.

Ms Abbot’s remarks came after a leading think tank warned that MPS may have little chance of stopping Mr Johnson pushing through a no-deal Brexit when Parliament returns.

The Institute for Government (IFG) said MPS may have limited opportunities to stop a no-deal break and that, even if Mr Johnson loses a confidence vote, he may still try to plough on regardless.

The Prime Minister’s top adviser, Dominic Cummings, is also believed to have told him that opponents of no-deal had left it too late.

Mr Johnson has said he is committed to taking Britain out of the EU by the deadline of 31 October, whether or not he can get a new deal with Brussels.

Ms Abbott, asked if Labour is planning to move a vote of no confidence against Mr Johnson’s Government in the first week of Parliament’s return, said: “It’s above my pay grade to say when we’ll move the vote of no confidence.

“But who has confidence in Boris Johnson apart from the people around him?

“The more he announces these bogus unfunded announcements, I think the less confidence there will be in him in the general public.”

Told that the motion has to be moved soon to stop Brexit, Ms Abbott replied on Radio 4’s Today programme: “Yes, it does. But one of the things we have to do is consult with other parties – it’s no good moving a vote of no confidence if the Lib Dems, for instance, are not going to vote for it.”

She added: “We are talking to all of the other parties in Parliament and, if we move for a vote of no confidence, we’ll want to do it with confidence that we can win it.”

Downing Street said Mr Johnson remains “very clear in his determination to want to get a deal” and will hold talks with EU leaders in the coming days.

His spokesman said: “He has held a number of conversations with EU leaders. So has the Prime Minister’s sherpa David Frost.

“We are also making very detailed preparations at home to ensure the UK is ready to leave the EU in all circumstances on 31 October.

“There are daily meetings taking place to ensure that we are ready and there are bi-weekly strategy meetings taking place in relation to the negotiations if the EU is willing to sit down and negotiate.”

Mr Johnson is expected to speak to EU leaders on the telephone in the coming days and is understood to be considering travelling to meet some leaders, including Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, for face-to-face talks before the G7 summit at the end of the month.

Justice Secretary Robert Buckland, appearing on Today, also maintained that crashing out of the EU would be chaos as he noted: “I have consistently argued that point and I still do that.”

He was reminded that he previously said it was the duty of Government to avoid the “chaos of a crash-out Brexit”, with Mr Buckland replying: “Yes, and that’s why I think the work that’s been done within Government to ensure an orderly Brexit is vital.”

He added: “There is a differencebetweencrashingoutand not achieving a deal”, and said continuing work will “avoid the chaos of a crash out”.

The IFG’S report said there was less scope for MPS to make their voices heard than there was under Theresa May in the run-up to the previous March 29 deadline.

Government control of Commons business means it could be difficult for MPS to repeat the process that led to the passing of the “Cooper Act” in March, which required Mrs May to seek the current extension.

Opponents of no-deal would still have the “nuclear option” of trying to pass a vote of no confidence in the Government, although the report said there were “risks” involved in this approach too.

Under the Fixed-term Parliaments Act, if the Government loses there would be 14 days for Mr Johnson to win another confidence vote or for an alternative government to be formed. Otherwise there has to be a general election.

However, Mr Cummings has reportedly told Mr Johnson he could delay polling day until after 31 October, by which time Britain would be out of the EU.

The report acknowledged that such a tactic may be possible although highly contentious and potentially open to legal challenge.

Green MP criticised over all-women ‘emergency cabinet’ proposal

A Green MP has been forced to defend her call for an allfemale “emergency cabinet” in an effort to stop a no-deal Brexit.

Caroline Lucas’ proposal was branded “sexist” by one Government minister, while others hit out at the absence of any black and minority ethnic candidates.

But First Minister Nicola Sturgeon backed the move and said she would be prepared to serve in an allwomen set-up during an appearance on ITV’S Loose Women yesterday.

Ms Lucas said the crossparty group, formed of 10 female politicians, could “bring a different perspective” in an article for the Guardian.

Ms Lucas, the Brighton Pavilion MP, said the cabinet could organise another EU