Kent MPs debate vote of no confidence in the government
Published: 14:34, 16 January 2019
Updated: 14:40, 16 January 2019
MPs are debating a move by Labour to bring the government down after a crushing defeat over its Brexit bill.
Party leader Jeremy Corbyn opened the debate on a motion of no confidence saying that a general election was needed.
"The Prime Minister has consistently claimed that her deal, which has been decisively rejected, was good for Britain workers and business… she should have nothing to fear by going to the people," he said.
The Prime Minister had "lost control" and suffered an "historic and humiliating defeat".
Earlier, Theresa May received supportive questions from Kent MPs ahead of the debate.
The Prime Minister said the perception of politicians will sink if they fail to deliver Brexit.
She was answering a question by the Maidstone and Weald MP Helen Grant at Prime Minister’s Questions, she said public faith in politicians was at risk.
The MP asked: “Does the Prime Minister agree with me that if we fail to deliver Brexit, the public perception of MPs will be at an all-time low?”
The PM replied: “I absolutely agree...this is so important. I believe that if we fail to deliver what the public instructed us to deliver in the referendum, the views of people in this House, of politicians and Parliament will be at an all time low; they will have lost faith in politicians across this whole Parliament. We need to deliver Brexit.”
The vote on Labour’s motion of no confidence is expected to take place at about 7pm.
Theresa May's Brexit deal was rejected by 230 votes in the House of Commons last night, with 432 MPs, including nine of her Tory colleagues from Kent, voting against the withdrawal agreement.
Meanwhile, business chiefs have repeated concerns about the prolonged uncertainty over the deal.
Rosie Duffield MP says she is supporting the no-confidence motion
Kent’s only Labour MP, Canterbury’s Rosie Duffield, said: "I will vote no confidence in Theresa May's government again today and indeed in any future votes of no confidence brought before the house over the next few weeks.
"It is my opinion that the people of this country should now have the final say on our Brexit choices and I remain committed, as is well known, to a People's Vote, with an option to remain."
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Paul Francis