SNP attempts to replace Labour as Commons opposition
Labour under severe pressure as MPs turn on Jeremy Corbyn's leadership
- Nicola Sturgeon hopes to take advantage of Labour woes by offering alternative opposition
- Corbyn expected to face a leadership challenge after losing no confidence vote in parliament on Tuesday
Updated : 14:24
The Scottish National Party will attempt to displace Labour today as the official opposition in the House of Commons, as they claim that Jeremy Corbyn's party has descended into a "crisis-ridden shambles·.
The nationalist party have 54 MPs, and will cite rules in the parliamentary guidleines that the opposition government must be prepared to assume power.
Nicola Sturgeon's party have risen to prominence in the last week after a majority of people in Scotland voted to Remain in the EU, and the leader has demanded that they not be taken out of the bloc against their will.
The leader has demanded that they not be taken out of the bloc against their will
Pete Wishart, SNP shadow Commons leader, said that the current opposition does not fulfil the requirements for its position.
"Following the loss of two-thirds of its shadow cabinet, it is clear that the Labour Party fails this test," Wishart said on Twitter.
"There's obligations to be met to be the official opposition in the House of Commons.
"Labour now can't meet them. The SNP will seek to replace them (on Wednesday).
"For those asking how this is possible it's in Erskine May. The official opposition must be 'prepared to assume office'. Labour can't any more whereas the SNP can.
"There's obligations to be met to be the official opposition in the House of Commons" Pete Wishart
"(The SNP is) organised and disciplined with 'shadows' in every department and ministry.
"There is also more support for the SNP front bench than there is for the Labour front bench in the House."
Jeremy Corbyn maintains that he will not step down as Labour leader despite losing a no confidence vote among his own MPs yesterday by quite a large margin. He has defiantly claimed that the people eho voted him in as leader still support him.
Angela Eagle has risen as the likely challenger to the battered leader and was the most senior member of the shadow cabinet to resign amongst the chaos as scores of members of Mr Corbyn's top team deserted him.
Outgoing prime minister David Cameron told Corbyn on Wednesday suring PMQs that his departure is in the national interest.
Cameron responded to Corbyn's criticism of him by saying: "It might be in my party’s interest for him to sit there – he’s not in the national interest. I would say: for heaven’s sake, man, go!"