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Jo Swinson: Clarke and Harman prepared to lead emergency government | Jo Swinson: Clarke and Harman prepared to lead emergency government |
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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 rejected Jeremy Corbyn's proposal that he should be caretaker PM if he wins a vote of no confidence in Boris Johnson's government. | Ms Swinson rejected Jeremy Corbyn's proposal that he should be caretaker PM if he wins a vote of no confidence in Boris Johnson's government. |
She said the Labour leader did not have enough support from MPs. | She said the Labour leader did not have enough support from MPs. |
Mr Corbyn said he was "ready to serve" as PM if the government collapsed. | Mr Corbyn said he was "ready to serve" as PM if the government collapsed. |
Speaking on a visit to Machynlleth, Powys, he said he was "disappointed" by Ms Swinson's response to his plan, adding that he hoped she would "come round" to it. | Speaking on a visit to Machynlleth, Powys, he said he was "disappointed" by Ms Swinson's response to his plan, adding that he hoped she would "come round" to it. |
Asked if he could support Mr Clarke or Ms Harman as an interim prime minister, Mr Corbyn said: "Under normal constitutional processes in Britain, when a government collapses, the leader of the opposition is called on to form a government." | Asked if he could support Mr Clarke or Ms Harman as an interim prime minister, Mr Corbyn said: "Under normal constitutional processes in Britain, when a government collapses, the leader of the opposition is called on to form a government." |
It was "not up to Jo Swinson to decide who the next prime minister is going to be", he added. | |
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." | |
However, Ms Swinson said she would be open to discussing alternative suggestions with Mr Corbyn of installing "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 installing "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. |
An SNP spokesman confirmed the party's Westminster leader, Ian Blackford, had held a "constructive conversation" with the Labour leader on Friday morning to discuss "ways in which the opposition parties can work together in removing the growing threat of a disastrous no-deal Brexit". | An SNP spokesman confirmed the party's Westminster leader, Ian Blackford, had held a "constructive conversation" with the Labour leader on Friday morning to discuss "ways in which the opposition parties can work together in removing the growing threat of a disastrous no-deal Brexit". |
Conservative 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". | Conservative 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." | 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. | 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". |
He has also said the cost of a no-deal Brexit would be "vanishingly inexpensive, if you prepare". | He has also said the cost of a no-deal Brexit would be "vanishingly inexpensive, if you prepare". |
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. |