DUP will not back Corbyn's move to oust PM: Dodds

Nigel Dodds has said the DUP will not support Jeremy Corbyn's motion of no confidence in Prime Minister Theresa May, describing it as "parliamentary theatrics and game-playing".

Last night the DUP Westminster leader said his party was "not interested" in the "play-acting" of the Labour leader.

Mr Corbyn yesterday tabled a long-threatened motion of no confidence in Mrs May after she set out the timetable for MPs to pass judgment on her deal with Brussels.

But the vote faced being opposed by Mrs May's opponents in her own party and the DUP, and the Government would have to allow Commons time for the confidence vote to take place this week.

But Downing Street ruled out allowing parliamentary time "for what is a stunt".

And it effectively dared Mr Corbyn to bring a vote of no confidence in the Government in a bid to seek a general election instead of targeting the PM.

Earlier, Mrs May said the House of Commons would have the chance to debate her Withdrawal Agreement in the week MPs return to Westminster after Christmas on January 7.

The crucial vote - which was postponed earlier this month to avoid a heavy defeat - will take place the following week.

Labour leader Mr Corbyn said it was "unacceptable" to delay the vote and said he was tabling a motion "that this House has no confidence in the Prime Minister".

He told Mrs May: "A responsible prime minister would, for the good of this country, put this deal before the House this week so we could move on from this Government's disastrous negotiation."

The wording of the motion is targeted at Mrs May rather than the Government as a whole. As such it is largely a symbolic political move on Labour's part.

Even if it was successful, the motion would not trigger the process set out under the Fixed-term Parliaments Act which could eventually lead to a general election.

While Labour insisted the motion should be allocated time for debate, Mr Dodds suggested the DUP will not be distracted from its priority - the removal of the Brexit backstop.

"We are not interested in the parliamentary antics or play-acting of the Labour Party," he said in a statement.

"For our part we are focused on the meaningful vote and the need to secure the necessary changes to ensure we have the right deal for the United Kingdom."

Mr Dodds also told Sky News: "We wouldn't be supporting that motion, we don't think it's the right time. It's a bit of parliamentary theatrics and game-playing."

Hours earlier, the North Belfast MP had called for clarity about what concessions Mrs May is seeking from the EU over the backstop.

The 10 DUP MPs are adamantly opposed to the inclusion of any backstop in the withdrawal treaty because they believe it could separate Northern Ireland from the rest of the UK.

The Prime Minister is reliant upon them under a confidence and supply deal which has been subject to considerable pressure and tension recently.

Mr Dodds said: "There is a need for clarity from the Prime Minister about exactly what she is asking for to deal with the key concerns about the legally binding indefinite nature of the backstop with no right for the United Kingdom to exit on its own terms.

"The EU's response to the summit was not surprising, but the Prime Minister must decide whether she will stand up to such tactics or once again accept a deal on Europe's terms alone."

He added: "Following the summit last week the European Council have talked about clarifications and reassurances but ruled out renegotiating, contradicting or reopening the legal text.

"They also even struck out text which stated the backstop didn't represent a desirable outcome for the EU27."

Mr Corbyn's move appeared to galvanise Tory ranks, with key Brexiteer Jacob Rees-Mogg - the ringleader of the recent Conservative attempt to oust Mrs May - surprisingly offering his assurances that she "commands my confidence too".

He had previously said that despite seeing off the Conservative Party's internal motion of no confidence in the PM by 200 votes to 117, Mrs May should resign as soon as possible.

Mr Rees-Mogg's European Research Group (ERG) also said it would "of course be voting with the Government on this meaningless Labour motion".

Amid ongoing Westminster deadlock, the SDLP yesterday threw its weight behind fresh calls for a second Brexit referendum.

"The SDLP have said repeatedly that we will support any opportunity to stop Brexit including another referendum," said Claire Hanna MLA.

"The problem isn't with the current deal on the table, but with Brexit itself.

"There is no magical way to reconcile Brexiteer promises with the UK Government's legal obligations to the island if Ireland."

Mrs May, in a warning to campaigners calling for a second referendum, has said that it would "break faith with the British people" and would do "irreparable damage to the integrity of our politics".

Belfast Telegraph