Business of the House

Stewart Malcolm McDonald Excerpts

Monday 10th December 2018 Commons Chamber

[Carol Monaghan (Glasgow North West) (SNP)]

rose—

[Stewart Malcolm McDonald (Glasgow South) (SNP)]

rose—

[Mr Speaker]

I call Carol Monaghan.

[Andrea Leadsom]

I can give the hon. Lady that assurance.

[Stewart Malcolm McDonald]

As they say in Glasgow, the game’s a bogey. When the Government are scared of their own shadow, they do not deserve to be in office. Given that a confidence vote is surely inevitable in the not-too-distant future, can the Leader of the House confirm that there is no parliamentary instrument or trickery that she can deploy on behalf of the Government to prevent that from taking place when it is called?

[Andrea Leadsom]

I do not agree with the hon. Gentleman. The Government are taking action to address the expressed concerns of hon. and right hon. Members. With regard to the Fixed-term Parliaments Act 2011, the Government have the confidence of the House. If the Opposition wish to dispute that, it is for them to test it via a motion under the terms of the Act.