May pursues Brexit Plan B after victory in Commons
No-confidence motion defeated by 19 votes PM promises to start cross-party talks
THERESA MAY was last night starting cross-party talks on a Brexit Plan B after surviving an attempt to oust her as MPs rejected Jeremy Corbyn’s motion of no confidence in the Government.
The Prime Minister’s victory by 325 votes to 306 came less than 24 hours after the crushing defeat of her EU Withdrawal Agreement in Commons, which left hopes of success for her Brexit deal in tatters. Tory rebels and members of the Democratic Unionist Party, who consigned the PM to the worst defeat in parliamentary history, rallied behind her to see off the threat of a general election.
Speaking on the steps on Number 10 Downing Street just after 10pm, the Prime Minister said she had started talks with leaders of other political parties.
She said it was “disappointing” that Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn had not taken part but that “our door remains open”,
In a live broadcast to the nation, she said: “It is time for us to come together, put the national interest first and deliver on the referendum.”
She said she had already spoken to the leader of the Liberal Democrats and Plaid Cymru and would today have talks with MPs representing “the widest possible range of views”.
Earlier, Mrs May pledged to approach the talks “in a constructive spirit” and urged other parties to do the same, adding: “We must find solutions that are negotiable and command sufficient support in this House.” But Mr Corbyn demanded that no deal be ruled out before any talks started.
Mrs May is now due to set out her alternative plan for EU withdrawal to MPs on Monday. But she risks losing control of the Brexit process, as she must table a motion which can be amended by MPs.
They are expected to use the opportunity to secure Commons support for a range of possible outcomes, from ruling out a no-deal departure or opting for Norway-style membership of the single market to a second referendum.
MPs on both the Remain and the Leave wings of the party warned she needed to make major changes to the deal if she is to get it through the Commons.
Mrs May confirmed she wanted to meet MPs from across Parliament before returning to the Commons on Monday to make a fresh statement on the way forward on Brexit.
She held talks with DUP leader Arlene Foster, who later described the discussions as “useful” and said she had made clear the Northern Irish party would “act in the national interest”.
Mrs May is facing mounting pressure from senior European political figures to ensure that a no-deal Brexit is avoided at all costs.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel, the most powerful politician in Europe, maintained yesterday that there was still time for negotiations between the EU and Britain over its departure from the remaining 27-state bloc.
And in Yorkshire, a senior business figure warned that the region’s firms were facing staff shortages as EU nationals were becoming increasingly reluctant to seek employment in the UK.
Chris Hearld of KPMG told a meeting at Westminster that Yorkshire has seen a spike in demand for warehouse space as the region’s businesses stockpile goods.