Lib Dems table no confidence motion after Sunak loses local elections

Liberal Democrat Leader Ed Davey is set to table a motion of no confidence in the Government as soon as Parliament returns tomorrow, which could force a general election if it is passed by the House of Commons.

Ed Davey is challenging the Government to allow MPs to debate the motion as soon as possible, arguing that last week’s local elections demonstrated that “the public clearly has no confidence in Rishi Sunak’s out-of-touch Conservative Government”.

The Conservatives lost over 1,000 seats across England, while the Liberal Democrats gained over 400 including taking control of former true blue areas such as Windsor and Maidenhead, Stratford-on-Avon and Surrey Heath.

Ed Davey, Leader of the Liberal Democrats, said:

“Time’s up for Rishi Sunak and his out-of-touch Conservative Government.

“The local elections showed that the public clearly has no confidence in Sunak or the Conservatives, so it’s time for a general election now.

“There’s only one reason Rishi Sunak would deny British people a say at the ballot box: because he is running scared and knows he’d lose.

“It’s time for these out-of-touch Conservatives to face the music for their appalling failures on the cost of living, the NHS, sewage and so much more.”

ENDS

Notes to Editor:

The Liberal Democrat draft motion reads “That this House has no confidence in His Majesty's Government.” By convention, if the Prime Minister loses a vote on it he will have to ask the King to dissolve Parliament, triggering a general election.

The last time a Government lost a confidence motion was James Callaghan’s Labour Government in 1979, forcing an election five weeks later.