“We could well be looking towards a general election, and – do you know what? – we’re ready for it”
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has said that the country “could well be looking towards a general election” as his party kicks off its annual conference today.
The comments came on Sunday’s Andrew Marr Show, on which he also claimed Labour would be prepared to vote down Theresa May’s final Brexit deal in order to force the government back to the negotiating table with Brussels.
“Theresa May is looking two ways at the same time,” says @jeremycorbyn #marr pic.twitter.com/WspRi0DIIB
— BBC Politics (@BBCPolitics) September 23, 2018
Asked if the country could soon be facing an election, Corbyn replied: “We could be, because this government doesn’t seem very strong, it is looking in two directions at the same time, on one hand, a trade deal with the US, on the other hand, some kind of relationship with Europe.
“We could well be looking towards a general election, and – do you know what? – we’re ready for it.”
Later, questioned on whether Labour would be able to get the support of Conservative MPs required to trigger a vote of no confidence in the government, Corbyn added that his party would be “putting [its] case to parliament” and would “see what happens after that”.
He said: “I don’t think there’s many Tory MPs want a Labour government, but there’s many Tory MPs that are very, very angry at the way their government is performing and might feel it is the right time for the country to make a decision on the future.”
His comments follow reports in the Sunday Times claiming that Theresa May’s aides have been “war-gaming” a snap general election in November.
Two senior members of May’s Downing Street team reportedly responded to last weeks stall in negotiations on Britain’s EU exit deal by making a contingency plan to save Brexit and consolidate Theresa May’s position as prime minister.
One of these advisors said during a telephone call: “What are you doing in November — because I think we are going to need an election.”
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has further increased the pressure on May over the weekend by stating that his party will back a People’s Vote if delegates vote for the policy at their annual conference.
