24 hours for May to save her job – here’s how no confidence vote works
Written by News on 16/01/2019
Theresa May’s Brexit deal has been defeated by 230 votes – the biggest government defeat in history.
And now Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has tabled a motion of no confidence in the government.
The vote itself will be held on Wednesday at 7pm following a debate in the Commons.
MPs will be asked to vote on a motion: “That this House has no confidence in Her Majesty’s Government.”
This gives Mrs May less than 24 hours to fight for her job.
There is no limit to the number of times Mr Corbyn can call a no confidence vote, but it is unlikely that the leader of the opposition would have started a fight he did not think he could win.
And with the DUP saying they will stand by their agreement with the Tories, a defeat for Mrs May is not a surefire outcome.
If the government wins, the consequence is simple: Mrs May continues in office.
But, if she loses, all bets are off.
The government would fall and there would be a period of 14 days in which a new government can be formed. There are no rigid rules of what must happen during this fortnight period.
Mrs May, who has previously said she would not fight the 2022 election, could attempt to cling on and form a new administration.
She is safe from a vote of no confidence from her own party for another 12 months, after the ballot against her failed late last year.
However, she may decide it is time to go and hand the reins over to someone else.
A new Conservative leader would then have the chance to form a government – as would opposition parties.
The current make-up of parliament means the Conservatives remain the only party with enough numbers to have a likely chance of controlling the Commons.
The new government is confirmed in office through passing a resolution in the Commons “That this House has confidence in Her Majesty’s Government.”
However, if no government is presented after 14 days, there would be another general election.
:: Follow and watch the confidence vote live with a special programme on Sky News from 6-9pm on Wednesday evening
(c) Sky News 2019: 24 hours for May to save her job – here’s how no confidence vote works
