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Brexit: Tory MP Oliver Letwin rejects Corbyn as caretaker PM | Brexit: Tory MP Oliver Letwin rejects Corbyn as caretaker PM |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Senior Tory MP Sir Oliver Letwin has said he does not support Jeremy Corbyn becoming a caretaker prime minister in a bid to avoid a no-deal Brexit. | Senior Tory MP Sir Oliver Letwin has said he does not support Jeremy Corbyn becoming a caretaker prime minister in a bid to avoid a no-deal Brexit. |
But he backed discussions across the Commons to prevent the UK crashing out of the EU without a deal. | |
Prime Minister Boris Johnson has pledged that the UK will leave the EU by 31 October "do or die". | Prime Minister Boris Johnson has pledged that the UK will leave the EU by 31 October "do or die". |
Mr Corbyn's current plan is to win a no-confidence vote in the government and become interim prime minister. | Mr Corbyn's current plan is to win a no-confidence vote in the government and become interim prime minister. |
He then wants to delay Brexit, call a snap election, and campaign for another referendum. | |
Sir Oliver, who was among senior Tories who received a letter from Mr Corbyn about the plan, was asked about Mr Corbyn's proposal on BBC Radio 4's Today programme. | |
"That appears to be his agenda. I have to say it is not one I personally share," he said. | |
"I don't think it's at all likely that a majority would be formed for that and I personally wouldn't want to vote for it. I wouldn't be able to support that, no." | "I don't think it's at all likely that a majority would be formed for that and I personally wouldn't want to vote for it. I wouldn't be able to support that, no." |
Sir Oliver, a former cabinet minister, has led several attempts in Parliament to break the Brexit impasse and prevent a no-deal Brexit. | |
But he said he was "not very inclined" to bring down the government in a no-confidence vote and would "rule it out" if it led to Jeremy Corbyn becoming prime minister. | |
His comments come amid an ongoing row among MPs who oppose no deal, with Liberal Democrat leader Jo Swinson initially dismissing Mr Corbyn's plan as a "nonsense". | |
Anna Soubry, leader of the Independent Group, said she would also "not support nor facilitate any government led by Jeremy Corbyn". | |
SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon was among those applying pressure to Ms Swinson to change her stance. | |
The Liberal Democrat leader has suggested Tory grandee Ken Clarke or former Labour deputy leader Harriet Harman could head a temporary government instead of Mr Corbyn. | |
On Friday, Mr Clarke said he was willing to lead a government of national unity to avoid a no-deal Brexit. | On Friday, Mr Clarke said he was willing to lead a government of national unity to avoid a no-deal Brexit. |
Sir Oliver suggested the majority of MPs did not want a no-deal Brexit and they needed to "talk a lot" and "talk frankly" to come to an agreement. | Sir Oliver suggested the majority of MPs did not want a no-deal Brexit and they needed to "talk a lot" and "talk frankly" to come to an agreement. |
However, fellow Tory MP - and Brexiteer - Sir John Redwood told Today he was not worried about opposition to the government's Brexit stance. | However, fellow Tory MP - and Brexiteer - Sir John Redwood told Today he was not worried about opposition to the government's Brexit stance. |
"I would be surprised if this parliament developed a majority to thwart the British people because the overwhelming majority of MPs were elected on a clear promise to see us out of the European Union with a deal if there's a good deal on offer and without the deal if there wasn't a good deal on offer," he said. |