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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Jo Swinson: Clarke and Harman prepared to lead emergency government | Jo Swinson: Clarke and Harman prepared to lead emergency government |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Senior Tory Ken Clarke and former deputy Labour leader Harriet Harman are both prepared to lead an emergency government to avoid a no-deal Brexit, Lib Dem leader Jo Swinson has said. | Senior Tory Ken Clarke and former deputy Labour leader Harriet Harman are both prepared to lead an emergency government to avoid a no-deal Brexit, Lib Dem leader Jo Swinson has said. |
| Ms Swinson has rejected Jeremy Corbyn's proposal that he should be installed as a caretaker PM if he wins a vote of no confidence in the government. | Ms Swinson has rejected Jeremy Corbyn's proposal that he should be installed as a caretaker PM if he wins a vote of no confidence in the government. |
| She said Mr Corbyn did not have the necessary support from opposition MPs. | She said Mr Corbyn did not have the necessary support from opposition MPs. |
| However, she said she would be prepared to meet him to discuss alternatives. | However, she said she would be prepared to meet him to discuss alternatives. |
| Ms Swinson put forward Mr Clarke and Ms Harman - who are the longest-continuously serving male and female MPs - as potential caretaker prime ministers, saying they were both experienced and command respect across Parliament. | Ms Swinson put forward Mr Clarke and Ms Harman - who are the longest-continuously serving male and female MPs - as potential caretaker prime ministers, saying they were both experienced and command respect across Parliament. |
| "I have been in touch with them because obviously you don't just mention people's names without checking that they're OK with that," she told BBC Radio 4's Today programme. | "I have been in touch with them because obviously you don't just mention people's names without checking that they're OK with that," she told BBC Radio 4's Today programme. |
| "They put public duty first and they don't want to see a no-deal Brexit," she added. | "They put public duty first and they don't want to see a no-deal Brexit," she added. |
| "If the House of Commons asks them to lead an emergency government to get our country out of this Brexit mess and to stop us driving off that cliff to a no-deal, then yes, they are prepared to do that." | "If the House of Commons asks them to lead an emergency government to get our country out of this Brexit mess and to stop us driving off that cliff to a no-deal, then yes, they are prepared to do that." |
| However, Ms Swinson said she would be open to discussing alternative suggestions with Mr Corbyn of "an experienced MP who has that respect across the House". | However, Ms Swinson said she would be open to discussing alternative suggestions with Mr Corbyn of "an experienced MP who has that respect across the House". |
| On Thursday, Mr Corbyn set out his plan to prevent a no-deal Brexit, which involves calling a vote of no confidence in the government and - if that is successful - a snap election, where he would campaign for another referendum. | On Thursday, Mr Corbyn set out his plan to prevent a no-deal Brexit, which involves calling a vote of no confidence in the government and - if that is successful - a snap election, where he would campaign for another referendum. |
| The SNP and Plaid Cymru did not rule out supporting a cross-party government to stop a no-deal exit and some Tory rebels suggested they would hold talks with Mr Corbyn. | The SNP and Plaid Cymru did not rule out supporting a cross-party government to stop a no-deal exit and some Tory rebels suggested they would hold talks with Mr Corbyn. |
| Former minister Guto Bebb said MPs should "take seriously" the offer, arguing that a short-term Mr Corbyn government would be "less damaging than the generational damage that would be caused by a no-deal Brexit". | Former minister Guto Bebb said MPs should "take seriously" the offer, arguing that a short-term Mr Corbyn government would be "less damaging than the generational damage that would be caused by a no-deal Brexit". |
| But David Gauke - a former justice secretary - signalled his opposition to the plan, tweeting: "If anyone thinks the answer is Jeremy Corbyn, I think they're probably asking the wrong question." | |
| Senior Tory Remainer Dame Caroline Spelman and the Independent Group for Change also refused to support a Corbyn government. | |
| Prime Minister Boris Johnson has said he wants a deal with the European Union, but insists the UK must leave the bloc by the end of October "do or die". | Prime Minister Boris Johnson has said he wants a deal with the European Union, but insists the UK must leave the bloc by the end of October "do or die". |
| Business Minister Kwasi Kwarteng said he was "a great fan" of Mr Clarke, but dismissed talk of the MP becoming prime minister as "speculation" - adding that he did not believe Labour could win a no-confidence vote. | Business Minister Kwasi Kwarteng said he was "a great fan" of Mr Clarke, but dismissed talk of the MP becoming prime minister as "speculation" - adding that he did not believe Labour could win a no-confidence vote. |
| Who are Ken Clarke and Harriet Harman? | Who are Ken Clarke and Harriet Harman? |
| Ken Clarke was first elected to Parliament as a Conservative MP in 1970 for the Nottinghamshire constituency of Rushcliffe. | Ken Clarke was first elected to Parliament as a Conservative MP in 1970 for the Nottinghamshire constituency of Rushcliffe. |
| He held several senior government posts under Margaret Thatcher and John Major, including health secretary, education secretary and chancellor. | He held several senior government posts under Margaret Thatcher and John Major, including health secretary, education secretary and chancellor. |
| However, his pro-European stance put him at odds with many in his party and despite three attempts in 1997, 2001 and 2005, he failed to become Conservative leader. | However, his pro-European stance put him at odds with many in his party and despite three attempts in 1997, 2001 and 2005, he failed to become Conservative leader. |
| Harriet Harman was first elected to the London constituency of Peckham in 1982. | Harriet Harman was first elected to the London constituency of Peckham in 1982. |
| Under Tony Blair's government, she served as social security secretary, minister for women and solicitor general. | Under Tony Blair's government, she served as social security secretary, minister for women and solicitor general. |
| In 2007 she won the race to be deputy leader of her party, and became acting leader in 2010 when Gordon Brown resigned following Labour's general election defeat. | In 2007 she won the race to be deputy leader of her party, and became acting leader in 2010 when Gordon Brown resigned following Labour's general election defeat. |