Tory MPs opposed to no-deal Brexit are accusing Jeremy Corbyn of undermining moves to defeat the Government in a no-confidence vote.
A former minister told the Standard that potential rebels were being driven away by the Labour leader’s insistence that any success should pave the way for him to become Prime Minister
Another Tory involved in Commons talks aimed at preventing Britain crashing out of the European Union on October 31 said the chances of a so-called “Government of national unity” were now “nil” and doubted Mr Corbyn could win a no-confidence vote at all.
A Labour Party source hit back by challenging MPs from other parties to decide what their priorities were. “Do they want to stop no-deal or not?” demanded the source.
The dispute comes after shadow chancellor John McDonnell said that if the Government lost its majority he would be “sending Jeremy Corbyn in a cab to Buckingham Palace to say ‘We’re taking over’ to the Queen”.
Under the Fixed Parliament Act, MPs have 14 days in which to form a new government if the sitting PM loses a confidence motion.
The former minister said: “There are Conservatives who may back a no-confidence motion to stop a hard Brexit, but not to make Jeremy Corbyn the next Prime Minister. It might be possible to assemble a unity Government, but only if a Labour centrist like Keir Starmer or Tom Watson was ready to lead it.”
Some Tory rebels believe no-deal could be blocked by a combination of winning a no-confidence vote and passing another Commons vote on a motion to delay Brexit.
Chuka Umunna, the former Labour MP who is now Liberal Democrat Treasury spokesman, said an “emergency government” formed solely to delay Brexit might stand a chance of success but not with Mr Corbyn in charge.
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“The person who leads that emergency government must command the confidence of the House,” he said. “All Tory Remainer MPs and a substantial minority of Labour MPs would not give the Labour leader that confidence but would be open to other suggestions.”
Labour’s Diane Abbott yesterday confirmed that Mr Corbyn might move a no-confidence motion when parliament returns on September 3 — provided it looked winnable.
Downing Street advisers claim it is too late for Parliament to stop Brexit on October 31, arguing that Boris Johnson would be under no legal obligation to resign immediately even if he lost a confidence vote.
Tory peer Lord Wolfson, the chief executive of retailer Next, said he would “much prefer” a deal but told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “I think if businesses and the Government prepare well for no-deal then I think the worst outcome will be mild disruption.”
