Swinson urges Corbyn to give up hopes of leading unity government if Johnson is ousted

Liberal Democrat leader demands clarity on where Labour stands on halting Brexit altogether

Liberal Democrat leader Jo Swinson has written to Jeremy Corbyn urging him to give up his hopes of leading a Government of National Unity if Boris Johnson is ousted by a vote of no confidence.

Swinson has agreed to join other opposition leaders at a meeting in Westminster called by Mr Corbyn for Tuesday to discuss tactics to prevent a no-deal Brexit.

But she told the Labour leader that his insistence that he should lead a time-limited caretaker government to arrange an extension to the UK’s Article 50 negotiations was jeopardising hopes of halting no-deal.

And she said it was time for him to make clear what Labour’s position would be if a second EU referendum was called.

The Lib Dem leader called on Corbyn to use Tuesday’s meeting to discuss alternative candidates for caretaker PM, such as Conservative veteran Kenneth Clarke or Labour’s mother of the Commons Harriet Harman.

Ms Swinson said that “no option must be left off the table” in talks between opponents of a no-deal outcome.

“In the last week many MPs who stand opposed to no-deal – in particular key Conservative MPs – have rejected your proposal to lead an emergency government,” she told Corbyn.

“Insisting you lead that emergency government will therefore jeopardise the chances of a no confidence vote gaining enough support to pass in the first place.

“As you have said that you would do anything to avoid no-deal, I hope you are open to a discussion about how conceding this point may open the door to a no confidence vote succeeding. Its success must be the priority.”

Ms Swinson proposed a four-point agenda for Tuesday’s meeting, also to be attended by representatives of the Scottish National Party, Change UK, Plaid Cymru and the Greens. Mr Corbyn has also invited a number of pro-EU Tories but none has so far said they will attend.

The Lib Dem leader said the meeting should focus on:

* Taking over the Commons order paper in order to pass legislation blocking no-deal;

* Planning to beat the government in a vote of no confidence;

* The formation of an emergency government; and

* Establishing clarity on opposition parties’ position on stopping Brexit altogether.

She told Mr Corbyn that he must accept that any motion to take over proceedings in the Commons must be led by backbench MPs in order to secure the widest possible support, noting that motions tabled in the name of the Labour frontbencher had failed in the past.

And she said: “The meeting between opposition leaders tomorrow is an opportunity to reassure the British public that politicians are leaving no option off the table when faced with crashing out of the EU.

“We cannot allow party politics to stand in the way of finding a solution that works to prevent the national crisis approaching us.

“The Liberal Democrats stand ready to do everything we can to prevent not only a no-deal Brexit, but to stop Brexit altogether.”