Brexit: Nicola Sturgeon calls for confidence vote to clarify Labour stance

Labour must put forward a confidence motion to attempt to topple the government, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has said.

She repeated a warning that the SNP would act to table a no confidence motion in the government if Jeremy Corbyn’s party failed to do so.

A parliamentary confidence vote would trigger a 14-day countdown to a general election being called if it was supported by a majority of MPs.

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Speaking on Sky News's Ridge On Sunday, Ms Sturgeon said a no confidence motion would "help clarify Labour's position" even if it failed to topple the Government.

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"It seems to me right now that Labour is as much of a barrier to making progress on Brexit as the Tories are."

Labour have said a confidence motion will only be brought if it can be won. Other opposition parties can move a confidence motion, but are not guaranteed immediate parliamentary time to have it debated.

Ms Sturgeon added: “The SNP will keep all options open and if Labour won’t act, then we will act.”

Labour are understood to be wary of losing a confidence motion in case it boosts support for a second EU referendum as an alternative solution to the Brexit deadlock. Shadow Communities Secretary Andrew Gwynne told the BBC's Andrew Marr show that a confidence motion won't be brought until after the Commons get to vote on Theresa May's Brexit deal.

And asked about the prospects of a new Brexit referendum, Labour's shadow business secretary Rebecca Long-Bailey told Sky News: "I think we need to respect the referendum. I think there is a deal that can be struck within Parliament that brings everybody together."

She added: "In an extreme situation if that is not possible I share the position that our party has set out that we have to keep all options on the table.

With several newspapers reporting that Downing Street and individual ministers were preparing for a second EU referendum, Education Secretary Damian Hinds denied it was an option.

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Asked if Cabinet had talked about the issue, Mr Hinds told Sky News: "No. Government policy couldn't be clearer. We are here to act on the will of the British people clearly expressed in the referendum."