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Brexit: May's government defeats no-confidence motion by 325 to 306 votes – Politics live May keen to start alternative Brexit talks after no-confidence motion fails – Politics live
(about 1 hour later)
Theresa May’s spokesman has told reporters that the Westminster leaders of Labour, the Liberal Democrats, the SNP and Plaid Cymru have been invited to meet the prime minister later this evening.
However, a no-deal Brexit will not be taken off the table, despite Corbyn’s insistence it was a prerequisite for talks, he added.
The spokesman said: “The prime minister has been very clear that the British public voted to leave the European Union.
“We want to leave with a deal but she is determined to deliver on the verdict of the British public and that is to leave the EU on 29 March this year.”
A Number 10 source told the Press Association: “What we are talking about tonight is party leader-level talks between the prime minister and her opposite numbers in other parties, should they wish to accept that.”
It is understood that the prime minister will be making a further statement at 10pm tonight. It is unclear what will be said. She may well reprise parts of her earlier speeches today, but the party talks – if they do indeed happen – could prove crucial in shaping her approach going forward.
Caroline Lucas, the former Green party leader, has urged Jeremy Corbyn to hold a second referendum after his confidence motion was voted down.
In a clip posted to Twitter, the Brighton Pavilion MP said: “The leader of the opposition was right to try to bring down this toxic, failing government. But now MPs have had their say on the Brexit deal, he needs to give the people a say over our future relationship with our nearest neighbours.”
PM hangs on by 19 votes. So disappointing that MPs failed to remove this cruel & incompetent Govt with tonight's #NoConfidenceMotionParliament has now had its say both on the #Brexit deal & on the Government.It's time to extend that right to the people with a #PeoplesVote pic.twitter.com/dSNZuginmh
Lucas added that to do otherwise would be a “betrayal” of the “majority of his party’s members” and young supporters who were unable to vote in the referendum two years ago.
Earlier this evening in parliament, she said:
PM has failed to tackle any of underlying injustices & inequalities that drove #Brexit vote, so very glad to support #NoConfidenceMotionBut general election between 2 parties who support Brexit won't resolve this crisis.So we also need to listen to country with #PeoplesVote pic.twitter.com/qZESZKQly3
Nigel Dodds, the DUP deputy leader, has highlighted the fact the government would have been unable to command half the support of the Commons tonight without the support of the Northern Irish unionist party, with whom the Conservatives have a confidence and supply agreement.
The result of tonight's vote shows the importance of our C&S Agreement.DUP votes once again make the difference.
Its worth mentioning here that the DUP have 10 MPs, and the result of tonight’s vote was 325 to 306, out of 650 MPs overall.
Vince Cable, the Liberal Democrat leader, has renewed calls for a “people’s vote” and criticised Jeremy Corbyn for sitting on the fence. He tweeted:
Jeremy Corbyn and the Labour Party cannot procrastinate any longer. Either he backs Brexit or he backs the people. He has a responsibility to get off the fence and provide some effective opposition.
The only serious option is what the Liberal Democrats have been calling for since the 24th June 2016: a People’s Vote with the option to remain in the EU.#NoConfidenceMotion
James Brokenshire, the communities secretary, is the first cabinet minister to give an interview to the BBC News channel following this evening’s vote. He said that tonight’s events show that Theresa May commands the “profound” confidence of the majority of MPs.
Well the prime minister said yesterday that she wanted to test the opinion of the house, to see that we have the confidence of the House of Commons, which we profoundly do - that’s the vote we’ve had tonight. And therefore now to move on to discussions with other party leaders. As the prime minister said, wanted to work with other parties, parliamentarians, to test the support on the things that need to happen so we can ensure we make Brexit happen, and therefore following through as she said she would do.
He then criticised Jeremy Corbyn, suggesting he does not want to act in the national interest, and saying that its “extraordinary” that the Labour leader sought to “attach some conditionality” to the prime minister’s offer of talks, beginning this evening. “I hope he reflects on that because otherwise it looks like this is all about party political manoeuvring, rather than acting in the national interest. That is what the prime minister is determined to do.”
The mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, has tweeted:
Deeply disappointed that Conservative MPs have put political interest above the national interest tonight.The Govt needs to withdraw Article 50 immediately. If we cannot have a general election - the British public must have the final say - with the option to stay in the EU. https://t.co/RYK0KT0I8o
Here are the remarks Theresa May and Jeremy Corbyn made in the House of Commons following the confidence vote, in full.
The prime minister said:
I’m pleased that this house has expressed its confidence in the government tonight. I do not take this responsibility lightly and our government will continue its work to increase our prosperity, guarantee our security and to strengthen our union. And yes we will also continue to work 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. I believe this duty is shared by every member of this house and we have a responsibility to identify a way forward that can secure the backing of the house.
To that end I’ve proposed a series of meetings between senior parliamentarians and representatives of the government over the coming days and I would like to invite the leaders of parliamentary parties to meet with me individually and I would like to start these meetings tonight. Mr Speaker, the government approach is to hold these meetings in a constructive spirit and I urge others to do the same but we must find solutions that are negotiable and command sufficient support in this house.
And I’ve said we will return to the house on Monday to table an amendable motion and to make a statement about the way forward. The house has put its confidence in this government, I stand ready to work with any member of this house to deliver on Brexit and to ensure this house retains the confidence of the British people.
The leader of the opposition said:
Thank you Mr Speaker. Last night the house rejected the government’s conclusion of its negotiations with the European Union.
Heckles from Tory MP’s prompted an intervention from the Speaker, who said May was listened to in “relative tranquility”, suggesting Corbyn was not extended the same courtesy.
Corbyn continued:
Last night the house rejected the government’s deal, emphatically. A week ago the house voted to condemn the idea of a no-deal Brexit. Before there can be any positive discussions about the way forward the government must remove, clearly and once and for all, the prospect of the catastrophe of no deal and all the chaos that would come as a result of that, and I invite the prime minister to confirm now that the government will not countenance a no-deal Brexit from the European Union.
Theresa May has comfortably won the no-confidence vote, by 325 to 306 - a majority of 19. The vote came after a debate in which Jeremy Corbyn accused her of leading “a zombie government”, and Tom Watson, the deputy Labour leader, closed the debate with a powerful speech saying May does not “possess the necessary political skills, empathy, ability, and most crucially the policy, to lead this country any longer”. (See 7.23pm.)
Opposition party leaders have refused an invitation from May to join her for talks about an alternative approach to Brexit until she abandons some of her red lines. After the vote May said she would like talks to start tonight. But Corbyn and the Lib Dems said they would not engage with her until she ruled out a no-deal Brexit. And the SNP said she would have to be willing to discuss extending article 50 and holding a second referendum before they agreed to participate.
Downing Street has flatly ruled out customs union membership, before the cross-party Brexit talks Theresa May promised on Tuesday night have even begun. May also delivered the same message in her speech in the debate. (See 4.14pm.)
Michel Barnier has said Brexit is at a standstill after the crushing rejection of Theresa May’s deal by MPs but offered to return to the negotiating table if parliament forces Theresa May to shift her “red lines”.
Business leaders have suggested the UK resembles a “supertanker heading for the rocks” that will not be saved unless factions in the Conservative party drop their own “red lines” for a Brexit deal.
Investors expect a delay to Britain’s exit from the EU following the crushing defeat of the prime minister’s Brexit deal, the Bank of England governor has said.
Half a dozen Labour MPs came out in support of a second referendum for the first time at a Westminster photocall, arguing it was the “the only logical option” if the party could not secure a general election.
Jacob Rees-Mogg hosted a champagne party for Brexiter colleagues on Tuesday night following the Commons vote that inflicted the worst defeat in modern history upon a UK prime minister, it has emerged.
That is all from me for tonight. My colleague Mattha Busby is taking over now.
Tom Watson’s speech was one of the most gently damning anyone has delivered about Theresa May since she became prime minister. Here are some key extracts.
First let me say very clearly that I am not one of those people who questioned [May’s] motives.
I agree with [Tory MP Stephen Kerr] who claimed she was motivated by public duty.
I don’t doubt that she has sincerely attempted to fulfil the task given to us by the voters in the referendum.
I have no doubt that she has tried her best and given it her all. But she has failed. And I’m afraid the failure is hers. Hers alone ...
Throughout history prime ministers have tried their best and failed. There is no disgrace in that. That’s politics.
But this prime minister has chosen one last act of defiance – not just defying the laws of politics, but defying the laws of mathematics.
It was a Disraeli who said “a majority is always better than the best repartee”. She is a prime minister without a majority for her flagship policy, with no authority and no plan B.
Mr Speaker … that’s not a mere flesh wound.
No one doubts her determination, which is generally an admirable quality, but misapplied it can be toxic.
And the cruellest truth of all is that she doesn’t possess the necessary political skills, empathy, ability, and most crucially the policy, to lead this country any longer ...
We know [May] has worked hard. But the truth is she is too set in her ways, too aloof to lead.
She lacks the imagination and agility to bring people with her.
She lacks the authority on the world stage to negotiate this deal.
Ultimately she has failed. It is not through lack of effort. It is not through a lack of dedication.
And I think the country recognises that effort. In fact the country feels genuinely sorry for the prime minister.
I feel sorry for the prime minister. But she cannot confuse pity for political legitimacy, sympathy for sustainable support.
Sir Ed Davey, the Lib Dem MP, says the Lib Dems also want May to rule out a no-deal Brexit before talks can start.
Ian Blackford, the SNP leader at Westminster, says he will only engage in talks with May if she is prepared to have extending article 50 and holding a “people’s vote” as options.
Jeremy Corbyn says he does not want to start talks with Theresa May until she rules out a no-deal Brexit.Jeremy Corbyn says he does not want to start talks with Theresa May until she rules out a no-deal Brexit.
Theresa May has just announced, on a point of order, that she wants to start talks with the leaders of the opposition parties tonight about a way forward on Brexit.Theresa May has just announced, on a point of order, that she wants to start talks with the leaders of the opposition parties tonight about a way forward on Brexit.
The government has won by 325 votes to 306 - a majority of 19.The government has won by 325 votes to 306 - a majority of 19.
This is from the BBC’s Joey D’Urso.
PMQs would be absolutely 🔥 if it was Tom Watson v Michael Gove every week
Here is the Labour MP Lisa Nandy on Michael Gove’s speech.
It can’t be very comforting to the Prime Minister that Michael Gove just used the closing speech of the no confidence debate to make a clear and shameless leadership pitch to the Tory Party
MPs are now voting on the no-confidence motion.
It is a very simple motion. It just says:
That this house has no confidence in Her Majesty’s government.
The SNP, the Lib Dems, Plaid Cymru and the Green party have also signed it. You can read the signatories on the order paper here (pdf).
Gove mentions investments that have been coming to Britain – all of those, “in the words of the BBC”, despite Brexit.
The government is spending more on the NHS. And the country has two new aircraft carriers, he says.
He says Corbyn wants to leave Nato and get rid of the nuclear deterrent. And he claimed that Corbyn once questioned why countries need big armies.
Corbyn was present when a wreath was laid to commemorate those involved in the massacre of Israeli athletes. Corbyn said he was “present but not involved”, Gove says. Gove says that sums up Corbyn’s stance on national security. When the Commons voted to oppose Islamic State, Corbyn was also present but not involved.
And Gove goes on to claim that Corbyn would not stand up to Putin. If he won’t stand up to Putin, how will he stand up for the national interest?
Labour MPs are shouting “shame” very, very loudly. (The claims that Gove is making are to a large extent contested.)
Gove finishes, with Tory MPs shouting “more” enthusiastically.
Michael Gove, the environment secretary, is winding up for the government now.
He says Tom Watson failed to mention Jeremy Corbyn in his speech. Gove and Watson have things in common, he says. They have both lost weight. And they both think Corbyn is unfit to lead the Labour party.
Turning to the SNP, Gove says Ian Blackford, the SNP leader at Westminster, did not say anything in his speech about the common fisheries policy, which is deeply unpopular with Scottish fishermen.
Tom Watson’s speech is getting rave reviews on Twitter – deservedly, because it was very good.
Here is some comment from other journalists.
From CityAM’s Owen Bennett
Must say, @tom_watson is quietly destroying the PM and the Tories here. Very good closing speech.
From the Evening Standard’s Joe Murphy
Wow, @tom_watson is so quietly savage tonight.
From the BBC’s Jon Sopel
.@tom_watson delivering a powerful wind up speech in the confidence debate. All the more effective because of its calm, more-in-sorrow-than-in-anger tone. #BrexitVote
From the Daily Mirror’s Kevin Maguire
Ouch! Reasonableness and sympathy deployed by @tom_watson as a devastating weapon against May. She had a face like thunder when he said people felt sorry for the PM but she must go
Watson says the question for MPs is whether it is worth giving May another chance to go back to Brussels, another chance to humiliate the UK, another chance to waste precious time.
He says it was May who laid down impossible red lines. She refused to guarantee the rights of EU nationals. And she tried to shut out parliament. She has treated MPs with disdain, he says.
He says parliament is now having to assert its authority.
At every turn, May has promoted division instead of unity.
She has chosen to placate the most extreme of her colleagues, he says.
What happened to those burning injustices that May said she would fight: Racism? Classism? Homelessness? Insecure jobs? All these problems have got worse.
May will forever be known as the “nothing has changed” PM.
But something must change. May is too aloof, too set in her ways. She lacks the agility to bring people with her.
It is not through lack of effort or dedication. The country feels sorry for the PM. Watson says he feels sorry for the PM. But that is not enough, he says.
He says Tories may feel loyal to May. But they know in their hearts she is “not capable of getting a deal through”.
That is why we need a general election, he says.
Watson says he is not one of those people who questions Theresa May’s motives. He accepts she is motivated by duty, and that she is trying to honour the result of the referendum. But she has failed, and the failure is hers alone.
He says he admires her resilience. Other people would not have been able to put up with the humiliations she has endured. But May has failed.
He says she has no majority for her flagship policy, no authority, and no alternative. She lost the vote by 432 votes to 202. That is not a mere flesh wound, he says.
He says May does not have the empathy or political skills to carry on as prime minister.
Tom Watson, the deputy Labour leader, is winding up now for the opposition.
He says the UK is “more divided and fearful for the future than ever before”.
In Cardiff the Welsh assembly has passed a Plaid Cymru motion rejecting a no-deal Brexit in any circumstances. After the vote Adam Price, the Plaid leader, said:
I’m very pleased that the Welsh government and our national parliament supported Plaid Cymru’s motion in rejecting in any circumstances an exit from the European Union with no deal. The agreement on our motion is a good sign that there is an emerging understanding in this place that we must come together to face problems that are crowding around Wales and the Welsh economy, threatening a perfect storm.