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Brexit vote: Jeremy Corbyn tables no-confidence motion after May defeat – Politics live Brexit vote: Jeremy Corbyn tables no-confidence motion after May defeat – Politics live
(35 minutes later)
The French president, Emmanuel Macron, repeated the EU had gone “as far as it could” on the Brexit negotiations. The mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, is following the Labour party line that a second referendum should follow any failure to secure a general election:
MPs have done the right thing tonight by rejecting the government’s bad Brexit deal. MPs from all political parties realised that this deal would worsen life chances and reduce opportunities for future generations in London and across the UK.
What happens next will define our future for decades to come. It is absolutely vital that the prime minister acts immediately to take any prospect of a no-deal Brexit off the table for good. That means withdrawing Article 50.
We then need a fundamental rethink about how we take this crucial decision. The politicians have failed and, in the absence of a general election, the British public must be allowed to decide what happens next.
We’re getting some more reaction to this evening’s vote and where it leaves us from senior figures in Westminster. The Conservative backbencher and former attorney general, Dominic Grieve, has told BBC Radio 5 Live:
It’s a very strange experience to be a backbench MP and participate in a huge rebellion against the government that defeats it by such a substantial margin.
But that’s a reflection of the fact that the House of Commons collectively looked at the deal the government has negotiated and concluded that it’s a deal which is not in the national interest.
Now that’s not the prime minister’s fault in my view – we would have had a different leader and a different prime minister and we’d have still ended up with the same deal – the problem is the direct result and consequence of the Brexit decision.
Any deal, I believe, is going to be an unsatisfactory one as viewed by the Commons. Either my ERG colleagues say that it doesn’t fulfil their dreams of what Brexit was supposed to be about, or people like me look at it and say: ‘But this is a third-rate future for our country and frankly we would be much better staying in’.
I have always argued for a further referendum because I believe that it is the only way out and, in doing that, I am respectful of the fact that the electorate might turn around and say: ‘Oh no, we want to leave on the prime minister’s deal’.
Many are looking ahead to tomorrow’s debate on the no-confidence motion tabled by the Labour leader, Jeremy Corbyn, following the vote. His party colleague and the shadow chancellor, John McDonnell, has tweeted:
No Prime Minister has led a government to this scale of defeat in living history. Usually the PM would have resigned immediately. Instead we’ve a government staggering on, directionless and unable to govern. This can’t go on. Contact your MP and tell them we need an election now
The Tory chancellor, Philip Hammond, posted:
I strongly back @theresa_may as she reaches out across the House to build a political consensus to deliver a negotiated Brexit deal that honours the referendum result while protecting Britain's jobs, business and prosperity.
Speaking to BBC’s Five Live, the Labour MP, Stephen Doughty, backed a second referendum if the party fails to secure a general election, saying:
Labour has a very clear position that was set out in our conference and agreed unanimously by our Labour members and backed by Labour voters as well, which is that we were going to vote down the deal if it didn’t meet the tests, call for a general election and remove the government.
If that doesn’t go through, it is very clear that we would have to put this to a public vote.
I actually think that is a much bigger thing than Labour policy. I think it’s the right thing to do because ... the reality is that people have changed their minds and have a right in a democracy to look at something, to look at facts and then to make a different decision.
And, in an interview with the same radio station, the Conservative backbencher, Paul Scully, said:
Clearly, it didn’t exactly go that well. The only good news is that it didn’t take me that long to vote.
At the end of the day, what we need to do now is get through the no-confidence motion tomorrow, which I don’t expect to succeed.
The prime minister has said that she’s going to speak to senior parliamentarians, to the DUP, to the Conservative party and see what will fly. Then she needs to go back to the EU and say: ‘Look, see, I told you so. There’s your benchmark, now you’ve got to actually shift’.
The problem with speaking to Jeremy Corbyn is that, frankly, if Jeremy Corbyn actually had a plan, given it to the prime minister and put it to a vote, he would have still voted against. That all he is interested in is this general election.
As Macron has hinted, however, sympathy among senior political figures on the continent for the view that the EU needs, for its own good, to accommodate the UK’s internal politics may be running short.
Prior to the vote, the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders’ chief executive, Mike Hawes, urged MPs to take no-deal off the table. After parliamentarians rejected May’s deal, he added:
The vote against the Brexit deal on the table brings us closer to the no-deal cliff edge that would be catastrophic for the automotive industry.
Leaving the EU, our biggest and most important trading partner, without a deal and without a transition period to cushion the blow would put this sector and jobs at immediate risk.
No-deal must be avoided at all costs. Business needs certainty so we now need politicians to do everything to prevent irreversible damage to this vital sector.
Earlier, we noted that the French president, Emmanuel Macron, had repeated the EU had gone “as far as it could” on the Brexit negotiations. Here’s some more detail on his reaction to this evening’s vote:
First option, they go towards a no deal ... That’s scary for everybody. The first losers in this would be the British.First option, they go towards a no deal ... That’s scary for everybody. The first losers in this would be the British.
Second option, they tell us – in my view, that’s what they’ll do, I know them a bit – ‘We’ll try to improve what we can get from the Europeans and we’ll go back for a vote’.Second option, they tell us – in my view, that’s what they’ll do, I know them a bit – ‘We’ll try to improve what we can get from the Europeans and we’ll go back for a vote’.
In that case, we’ll look into it. Maybe we’ll make improvements on one or two things but I don’t really think so because we’ve reached the maximum of what we could do with the deal and we won’t, just to solve Britain’s domestic political issues, stop defending European interests.In that case, we’ll look into it. Maybe we’ll make improvements on one or two things but I don’t really think so because we’ve reached the maximum of what we could do with the deal and we won’t, just to solve Britain’s domestic political issues, stop defending European interests.
Of an eventual third option, he said:Of an eventual third option, he said:
In my view, they’ll start with the second option and then we’ll eventually end up with the third: ‘Actually, we’re going to take more time to renegotiate something’ ... It creates a great deal of uncertainty and worries.In my view, they’ll start with the second option and then we’ll eventually end up with the third: ‘Actually, we’re going to take more time to renegotiate something’ ... It creates a great deal of uncertainty and worries.
Theresa May has sustained the heaviest parliamentary defeat of any British prime minister in the democratic era after MPs rejected her Brexit deal by a resounding majority of 230. You can read details of how MPs voted here.Theresa May has sustained the heaviest parliamentary defeat of any British prime minister in the democratic era after MPs rejected her Brexit deal by a resounding majority of 230. You can read details of how MPs voted here.
How did your MP vote on May's Brexit deal?How did your MP vote on May's Brexit deal?
May has said she will hold cross-party talks with MPs about a new approach – but she has not said what this might involve, and Brexiters and pro-Europeans both seem to think that tonight’s result could increase their chances of securing the sort of Brexit they want. They can’t both be right, and at this point there is no consensus at all about what impact the vote will have on the Brexit outcome. Campaigners for a second referendum were thrilled by the result, because they believe a people’s vote now more likely. But the constitutional expert Vernon Bogdanor thinks a no-deal Brexit is now more probable (see 9.35pm), and the DUP and Brexiters such as Boris Johnson (see 9.17pm) think the Commons decision will enable May to take a tougher line in talks with Brussels. May must decide whether she wants to tack towards those Tories who favour a harder Brexit or a “managed no deal”, perhaps cushioned by an extension to article 50 that would allow more time for no-deal planning, or towards a softer Brexit in the form of a Norwegian-style deal. In her statement to MPs after the result (see 8.11pm) she said nothing about her Brexit red lines, and implied that she was leaning towards Norway by saying she wanted “constructive” talks with Labour MPs. But she also said that any proposals must be “genuinely negotiable”, and that she was committed to delivering on the result of the referendum. Given that any move towards a softer Brexit could provoke a further backlash from her own party, it is not obvious that these talks will succeed.May has said she will hold cross-party talks with MPs about a new approach – but she has not said what this might involve, and Brexiters and pro-Europeans both seem to think that tonight’s result could increase their chances of securing the sort of Brexit they want. They can’t both be right, and at this point there is no consensus at all about what impact the vote will have on the Brexit outcome. Campaigners for a second referendum were thrilled by the result, because they believe a people’s vote now more likely. But the constitutional expert Vernon Bogdanor thinks a no-deal Brexit is now more probable (see 9.35pm), and the DUP and Brexiters such as Boris Johnson (see 9.17pm) think the Commons decision will enable May to take a tougher line in talks with Brussels. May must decide whether she wants to tack towards those Tories who favour a harder Brexit or a “managed no deal”, perhaps cushioned by an extension to article 50 that would allow more time for no-deal planning, or towards a softer Brexit in the form of a Norwegian-style deal. In her statement to MPs after the result (see 8.11pm) she said nothing about her Brexit red lines, and implied that she was leaning towards Norway by saying she wanted “constructive” talks with Labour MPs. But she also said that any proposals must be “genuinely negotiable”, and that she was committed to delivering on the result of the referendum. Given that any move towards a softer Brexit could provoke a further backlash from her own party, it is not obvious that these talks will succeed.
Jeremy Corbyn has tabled a no-confidence motion in the government that will be debated tomorrow. But the DUP has said it will back the government, and not one Tory has said publicly that he or she will vote against May, meaning the government is almost certain to win. If that happens, Corbyn will come under intense pressure to commit Labour to voting for a second referendum, although there is little evidence that he is keen to move in that direction in a hurry.Jeremy Corbyn has tabled a no-confidence motion in the government that will be debated tomorrow. But the DUP has said it will back the government, and not one Tory has said publicly that he or she will vote against May, meaning the government is almost certain to win. If that happens, Corbyn will come under intense pressure to commit Labour to voting for a second referendum, although there is little evidence that he is keen to move in that direction in a hurry.
Donald Tusk has made a thinly veiled call for the UK to stay in the European Union. The European council president suggested on Twitter that the prime minister’s historic loss in parliament left a deal looking “impossible”.Donald Tusk has made a thinly veiled call for the UK to stay in the European Union. The European council president suggested on Twitter that the prime minister’s historic loss in parliament left a deal looking “impossible”.
That’s all from me for tonight.That’s all from me for tonight.
My colleague Kevin Rawlinson is now taking over.My colleague Kevin Rawlinson is now taking over.
Germany’s vice chancellor, Olaf Scholz, said the vote was a “bitter day for Europe”.Germany’s vice chancellor, Olaf Scholz, said the vote was a “bitter day for Europe”.
“We are well prepared - but a hard Brexit would be the least attractive choice, for the EU and [Great Britain],” said Scholz, who is also finance minister.“We are well prepared - but a hard Brexit would be the least attractive choice, for the EU and [Great Britain],” said Scholz, who is also finance minister.
Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer, leader of Chancellor Angela Merkel’s centre-right CDU party and her likely successor, tweeted that she “deeply regretted” the British decision. “A disorderly Brexit will be the worst of all options,” she said, urging the British people to “not rush” into anything. Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer, leader of Chancellor Angela Merkel’s centre-right CDU party and her likely successor, tweeted that she “deeply regretted” the British decision. “A disorderly no-deal Brexit will be the worst of all options,” she said, urging the British people to “not rush” into anything.
In France, President Emmanuel Macron repeated that the EU had gone “as far as it could”, while the Spanish government said in a statement it regretted “the negative result” but it still hoped the deal would win approval, adding that a no-deal exit would hit the EU but be “catastrophic” for the UK.In France, President Emmanuel Macron repeated that the EU had gone “as far as it could”, while the Spanish government said in a statement it regretted “the negative result” but it still hoped the deal would win approval, adding that a no-deal exit would hit the EU but be “catastrophic” for the UK.
These are from Sky’s Beth Rigby.These are from Sky’s Beth Rigby.
From a Tory MP. “Extraordinary. You couldn’t make it up. 100 ardent Brexiteers join Corbyn & anti-Brexit campaigners to vote *against* Brexit - and make chance of 2ndRef and-or the price of cross-support much higher. (A Customs Union will now be Labour’s price) 1/2From a Tory MP. “Extraordinary. You couldn’t make it up. 100 ardent Brexiteers join Corbyn & anti-Brexit campaigners to vote *against* Brexit - and make chance of 2ndRef and-or the price of cross-support much higher. (A Customs Union will now be Labour’s price) 1/2
Senior Tory MP: “The ERG like kidnappers who just shot the hostage. Now it’s EFTA as Plan B.” 2/2Senior Tory MP: “The ERG like kidnappers who just shot the hostage. Now it’s EFTA as Plan B.” 2/2
Vernon Bogdanor, the politics professor and constitutional expert, has told Sky News that he thinks tonight’s vote make a no-deal Brexit more likely than a second referendum. He pointed out that the Commons has already passed legislation saying the UK will be leaving the EU on 29 March. Holding a second referendum would be very difficult, he said, because the government would have to pass legislation, and Brexiters would “fight it tooth and nail”. He went on:Vernon Bogdanor, the politics professor and constitutional expert, has told Sky News that he thinks tonight’s vote make a no-deal Brexit more likely than a second referendum. He pointed out that the Commons has already passed legislation saying the UK will be leaving the EU on 29 March. Holding a second referendum would be very difficult, he said, because the government would have to pass legislation, and Brexiters would “fight it tooth and nail”. He went on:
There are about 40 odd sitting days left till March 29. If no other statute is passed, we leave without a deal. I take the view ... that the vote tonight makes a no-deal departure more likely than a second referendum.There are about 40 odd sitting days left till March 29. If no other statute is passed, we leave without a deal. I take the view ... that the vote tonight makes a no-deal departure more likely than a second referendum.
My colleague Joseph Harker has written a column saying that Theresa May has turned the UK into a laughing stock and that she should go. Here is an extract:My colleague Joseph Harker has written a column saying that Theresa May has turned the UK into a laughing stock and that she should go. Here is an extract:
After her devastating defeat, Theresa May tried gamely to set out her agenda for the next few weeks. Right now, for Britain’s sake, May’s only plan should be to leave office. To unblock the political gridlock, there has to be another leader: one who can negotiate afresh with Europe and who can call an election to try to win a majority for whatever they agree. May’s reputation is shot. Regardless of whether she cobbles together enough support to see off Labour’s vote of no confidence tomorrow, she must go.After her devastating defeat, Theresa May tried gamely to set out her agenda for the next few weeks. Right now, for Britain’s sake, May’s only plan should be to leave office. To unblock the political gridlock, there has to be another leader: one who can negotiate afresh with Europe and who can call an election to try to win a majority for whatever they agree. May’s reputation is shot. Regardless of whether she cobbles together enough support to see off Labour’s vote of no confidence tomorrow, she must go.
For Britain’s sake, Theresa May, just go | Joseph HarkerFor Britain’s sake, Theresa May, just go | Joseph Harker
Business leaders are unanimous in their dismay at the vote and the prospect of leaving the EU without a deal.Business leaders are unanimous in their dismay at the vote and the prospect of leaving the EU without a deal.
The Federation of Small Businesses said many of its members would struggle to survive should deadlock in parliament lead to the country crashing out of the EU.The Federation of Small Businesses said many of its members would struggle to survive should deadlock in parliament lead to the country crashing out of the EU.
“It is vital that there is a transition period, to give smaller firms time to adapt to whatever the final outcome turns out to be,” said Mike Cherry, the head of the FSB. He went on:“It is vital that there is a transition period, to give smaller firms time to adapt to whatever the final outcome turns out to be,” said Mike Cherry, the head of the FSB. He went on:
Small business confidence has plummeted to its lowest point since the wake of the financial crash. Four in 10 expect performance to worsen over this quarter, two thirds are not planning to increase capital investment, and a third see lack of the right skills as a barrier to growth.Small business confidence has plummeted to its lowest point since the wake of the financial crash. Four in 10 expect performance to worsen over this quarter, two thirds are not planning to increase capital investment, and a third see lack of the right skills as a barrier to growth.
That’s what political uncertainty does to business: it makes it impossible to plan, innovate and expand.That’s what political uncertainty does to business: it makes it impossible to plan, innovate and expand.
He was joined by the leader of the CBI, Carolyn Fairbairn and the boss of the British Chambers of Commerce, Adam Marshall, along with leaders of the retail industry and the City in condemning the failure to secure a compromise agreement that allows firms access to the EU customs union.He was joined by the leader of the CBI, Carolyn Fairbairn and the boss of the British Chambers of Commerce, Adam Marshall, along with leaders of the retail industry and the City in condemning the failure to secure a compromise agreement that allows firms access to the EU customs union.
Echoing the line taken by the DUP (see 8.44pm), Boris Johnson, the Brexiter former foreign secretary, told the BBC that the result of the vote gave Theresa May a “massive mandate” to go back to Brussels and renegotiate.Echoing the line taken by the DUP (see 8.44pm), Boris Johnson, the Brexiter former foreign secretary, told the BBC that the result of the vote gave Theresa May a “massive mandate” to go back to Brussels and renegotiate.
He insisted that no-deal was “not at all” off the table, saying:He insisted that no-deal was “not at all” off the table, saying:
We should not only be keeping the good bits of the deal, getting rid of the backstop, but we should also be actively preparing for no-deal with ever more enthusiasm.We should not only be keeping the good bits of the deal, getting rid of the backstop, but we should also be actively preparing for no-deal with ever more enthusiasm.
And he claimed May’s leadership was not an issue. Asked if she was the right person to lead the party and the country, he said:And he claimed May’s leadership was not an issue. Asked if she was the right person to lead the party and the country, he said:
The Tory party had a go at all that, we all had a go at all that in December. That is not the issue. The issue is not who does it, the issue is what to do.The Tory party had a go at all that, we all had a go at all that in December. That is not the issue. The issue is not who does it, the issue is what to do.
Downing Street said the cross-party talks on how to take Brexit forward promised by Theresa May in her statement to MPs (see 8.11am) should start as “swiftly as possible” once the vote of confidence was out of the way. The prime minister’s spokesman told journalists:Downing Street said the cross-party talks on how to take Brexit forward promised by Theresa May in her statement to MPs (see 8.11am) should start as “swiftly as possible” once the vote of confidence was out of the way. The prime minister’s spokesman told journalists:
We want to identify what would be required to secure the backing of the house consistent with what we believe to be the result of the referendum. We want to leave with a deal and we want to work with others who share that.We want to identify what would be required to secure the backing of the house consistent with what we believe to be the result of the referendum. We want to leave with a deal and we want to work with others who share that.
The spokesman declined to be drawn on whether the talks would include Jeremy Corbyn. On this point, he said:The spokesman declined to be drawn on whether the talks would include Jeremy Corbyn. On this point, he said:
Let’s not pre-empt talks before they have happened. We will look to engage widely with people we believe share our objectives.Let’s not pre-empt talks before they have happened. We will look to engage widely with people we believe share our objectives.
Here is a rare picture of MPs in the no lobby voting against the government tonight.Here is a rare picture of MPs in the no lobby voting against the government tonight.
Photography is not normally allowed in the division lobbies, but several MPs have been tweeting pictures this evening. I flagged up some earlier. Here are some more.Photography is not normally allowed in the division lobbies, but several MPs have been tweeting pictures this evening. I flagged up some earlier. Here are some more.
From Labour’s Debbie AbrahamsFrom Labour’s Debbie Abrahams
The no lobby for the Government's motion... pic.twitter.com/dc6IMzGpHvThe no lobby for the Government's motion... pic.twitter.com/dc6IMzGpHv
From Labour’s Lloyd Russell-MoyleFrom Labour’s Lloyd Russell-Moyle
In the no voting lobby to vote against this deal. I’ve rarely seen it this full. May has united the Commons against her and her deal. Next step #NoConfidenceNow pic.twitter.com/uFPp9Vx2guIn the no voting lobby to vote against this deal. I’ve rarely seen it this full. May has united the Commons against her and her deal. Next step #NoConfidenceNow pic.twitter.com/uFPp9Vx2gu
From the Greens’ Caroline LucasFrom the Greens’ Caroline Lucas
It’s unusually busy in the No Lobby - that’s a good sign!#BrexitVote pic.twitter.com/OVehgKup2cIt’s unusually busy in the No Lobby - that’s a good sign!#BrexitVote pic.twitter.com/OVehgKup2c