Corbyn faces calls for no confidence vote in Prime Minister

JEREMY CORBYN is facing demands from Labour MPs to call an immediate vote of no confidence in the Government following Theresa May’s decision to defer the Brexit vote.

More than 30 MPs, 15 peers and five MEPs have signed a letter urging the Labour leaders to table a vote this week. If that fails, they say Labour must commit “straight away” to a second referendum, with an option to remain in the EU on the ballot paper.

Signatories to the letter, organised by former shadow cabinet member Ian Murray, include a number of prominent supporters of a so-called “people’s vote” including Chuka Umunna and Owen Smith.

“With the Government now clearly unable to command a majority in the House of Commons for the Prime Minister’s Brexit plan – which is at the heart of the Government’s entire agenda – it is imperative to take action this week under the terms of the Fixed-term Parliaments Act to table a vote of no confidence in HM Government,” the letter stated.

The Labour leadership however, has been cautious about tabling a confidence motion, warning of the difficulties of forcing a general election under the terms of the Fixed-term Parliaments Act, originally passed by the coalition under David Cameron.

A Labour spokesman said: “We will put down a motion of no confidence when we judge it most likely to be successful.”