Image credit: Parliament TV

SNP welcomes Corbyn's plan to block a no deal Brexit

The SNP has welcomed Jeremy Corbyn’s proposal for cross party cooperation to block a no deal Brexit.

The Labour leader wrote to the leaders of opposition parties in Westminster, putting forward a plan to bring down Boris Johnson’s government and stop a “deeply damaging” no deal outcome.

But Corbyn also said he would look for support to have himself installed as a temporary prime minister to oversee the Brexit process, something the other party leaders have not endorsed.

Jo Swinson, leader of the Liberal Democrats, initially dismissed the proposition saying: “This letter is just more red lines that are about him and his position and is not a serious attempt to find the right solution and build a consensus to stop a no deal Brexit.”

But during her first major speech as the new Lib Dem leader on the morning after Corbyn published his letter, Swinson suggested her party would in fact collaborate with Labour to stop a no deal.

She said: “I stand ready to work with anyone to stop Boris Johnson and his hardline Brexiters.”

But she cast doubt on Corbyn’s ability to lead a government and went as far as to suggest Conservative MP Ken Clarke or Labour MP Harriet Harman would be more able to unite the House of Commons.

Ian Blackford was more welcoming of Corbyn’s letter, although he made no comments on the suggested plan to make him caretaker PM.

He said that he would be pleased to meet Corbyn to discuss plans to allow Parliament to stop a no deal, although he also said Labour should clarify its Brexit position more generally.

Writing in response, Blackford said: “I am pleased to receive his letter today confirming that Labour will now work with the SNP and others collaboratively to stop the UK government - but this means Labour needs to get off the fence on Brexit.

“I will be pleased to meet with the Labour leader and others at the earliest opportunity to work together. I can also confirm that the SNP stands ready to bring down this Tory government should Labour table a Vote of No Confidence motion.”

Corbyn’s plan would involve holding a vote of no confidence in Johnson’s leadership, requiring the Labour party to win support from other opposition parties as well as Tory rebels.

Blackford went on: “The SNP will vote against this Prime Minister and his government when the opportunity arises.

“However, as detailed in my previous letter, we face an urgent threat of a no-deal Brexit with the clock ticking down to the 31st October.

“Therefore we must act immediately and collectively to stop the Prime Minister from dragging us out of the European Union without a deal.

“That means working together to find cast iron solutions. We need to explore how Parliament can take back control and use all means at our disposal to protect citizens from a damaging no-deal Brexit.