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- Jeremy Corbyn calls vote of no confidence in Theresa May's government following its defeat on their Brexit deal with the EU.
- The Labour leader says the historic defeat means the prime minister has lost the authority to govern.
- MPs are expected to vote on the motion of no confidence on Wednesday.
- If successful, a general election could be called within weeks.
LONDON - Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has tabled a vote of no confidence in Theresa May's government in a move designed to trigger a general election after the prime minister's deal was roundly rejected by MPs.
Corbyn announced to the House of Commons on Tuesday evening that he was launching a no confidence motion after MPs voted down May's Brexit deal by a whopping margin of 432 votes to 202.
Under terms of Fixed-term Parliaments Act, the House of Commons must hold a short debate on the no confidence motion on Wednesday before voting on whether to support the Labour leader's move to oust the government.
For the motion to be successful, Corbyn would need support from a majority of MPs.
This currently looks unlikely given that even MPs who oppose May's deal -including Brexiteers, Remainers and the Democratic Unionist Party - have said they would vote to preserve the government and keep out Corbyn.
However, if more than half of MPs were to support Corbyn, the prime minister would have just 14 days to restore confidence in her government. If she failed, she would have to call a general election.
Failure to pass the motion of no confidence would lead to immediate pressure on the Labour leader to shift his support behind holding a second Brexit referendum.
It is agreed Labour policy to leave the door open to holding a second referendum, but only after any push for a new general election has failed.
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