A CONFIDENCE vote in Boris Johnson will be put forward once Labour believes it can win it, according to Diane Abbott.
The shadow home secretary said it was “above my pay grade” to confirm whether the Opposition’s bid to test MPs’ level of support for the Prime Minister would take place immediately after Parliament returns in early September.
She said talks are taking place with other parties and that “bogus unfunded announcements” from Johnson on law and order, among others, are costing him support.
Her remarks came after the Institute for Government think tank warned that MPs may have limited opportunities to stop a No-Deal exit and that, even if Johnson loses a confidence vote, he may still try to plough on regardless.
The findings echo the reported view of the Prime Minister’s top adviser, Dominic Cummings, who is said to have told him that opponents of No Deal had left it too late, with the deadline October 31.
Told that the motion has to be moved soon to stop Brexit, Abbott said: “Yes, it does. But one of the things we have to do is consult with other parties – it’s no good moving a vote of no confidence if the LibDems, for instance, are not going to vote for it.
“We are talking to all of the other parties in Parliament and, if we move for a vote of no confidence, we’ll want to do it with confidence that we can win it.”
Johnson is expected to speak to EU leaders on the telephone in the coming days, and is understood to be considering travelling to meet some leaders for face-to-face talks ahead of the G7 summit at the end of the month.
Meanwhile, hauliers have struck back at suggestions from the head of the French Channel ports that the trade route between Dover and Calais will continue to run smoothly after Brexit.
The Road Haulage Association, which represents the UK industry, said it is “clear” that British authorities are not “Brexit-ready” and warned of an “information abyss”.
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