Boris Johnson news: Labour calls Swinson 'childish' after Lib Dem leader rejects Corbyn plan to thwart no-deal Brexit by becoming PM

Conservative MP breaks ranks to support plan as Brexit crisis continues

Jeremy Corbyn calls on opposition parties to make him caretaker PM

Jeremy Corbyn has challenged opposition parties and Tory rebels to instal him as caretaker prime minister so he can call a general election and prevent a no-deal Brexit under Boris Johnson.

Jo Swinson dismissed the plan as “nonsense”, saying the Labour leader could not unite opposition MPs, before proposing either Ken Clarke or Harriet Harman as a more suitable caretaker PM.

But Labour MPs rallied around the plan, urging Ms Swinson to reconsider her position.

The Lib Dem leader was branded “childish” by shadow education secretary Angela Rayner. The SNP, meanwhile, claimed they would work with Mr Corbyn, while a group of rebel Tory MPs said they were “happy to meet” him to discuss his plan.

Ms Swinson said she wanted to meet Mr Corbyn to discuss a solution to the Brexit crisis.

Meanwhile, the caretaker government plan has infuriated Tory MPs.

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said: "I think it's absolutely extraordinary that any Conservative MP considered even for one minute installing Jeremy Corbyn in Downing Street.

"Jeremy Corbyn would wreck our economy, he would destroy jobs and the livelihoods, savings, I think he also can't be trusted with security or crime and ... I just think that any Conservative should think very, very hard about doing this. It actually presents a very clear choice.

"You either have Jeremy Corbyn as prime minister overturning the result of the referendum or Boris Johnson respecting the referendum, putting more money into the NHS, more police on the streets to keep us all safe."

Conservative MP Guto Bebb did break ranks to support Mr Corbyn's plan.

If you would like to see how the day's news unfolded, please see what was our live coverage below:

[15 August 2019 19:50 · Zamira Rahim]

Interesting reporting from Sky News' Lewis Goodall tonight.

He says the five Change UK MPs may not vote against the government if Jeremy Corbyn triggers a vote of confidence in September.

That would put quite a dent in the Labour leader's plan for a caretaker government.

[15 August 2019 20:00 · Zamira Rahim]

Mike Pence will visit Ireland and the UK next month.

The US vice president has said he is looking forward to celebrating his Irish roots next month as the country is "very near to his family's heart".

The Republican is set to visit Ireland as part of a European trip on behalf of US president Donald Trump in early September.

The White House confirmed on Wednesday that Mr Pence would be in the UK on 4 and 5 September to discuss Brexit, Iran and the "threat of Chinese malign influence", and that he would travel to Ireland on 6 September to meet the Irish president Michael D Higgins and Irish premier Leo Varadkar.

Mr Pence confirmed on Thursday that he would be making the trip, which also includes a visit to Iceland, with his wife Karen.

He wrote: "Look forward to travelling overseas with SecondLady (Karen Pence) in September on behalf of POTUS. On Sept 4, we will visit Iceland where I will meet with PresidentISL & Foreign Minister GudlaugurThor on expanding trade & investment opportunities & enhancing security in the Arctic region.

"Then we will visit London on September 5 for high-level meetings on trade, joint economic cooperation, countering Iran's aggression, and the Special Relationship between our two countries."

[15 August 2019 20:10 · Zamira Rahim]

A rather pointed tweet from Labour's shadow chancellor here: "Good to hear that Plaid, SNP and Conservative MPs have responded positively to Jeremy Corbyn’s Caretaker Government offer by confirming that they are willing to meet," John McDonnell writes.

"We have to prevent the dangerous No Deal Brexit that Johnson is so recklessly willing to inflict on our country."

The Hayes and Harlington MP does not reference the Liberal Democrats. Jo Swinson's refusal to agree to the plan has made headlines all day.

[15 August 2019 20:20 · Zamira Rahim]

In case you missed it earlier, our sketchwriter Tom Peck has written about Jo Swinson's rejection of Jeremy Corbyn's plan.

"A motorbike revs. A helicopter whirs. A keyboard plays a high ostinato melody. In come the bass chords, a police car pursues a biker through the gates of a medieval castle and suddenly Jo Swinson is on stage," he writes.

“And I would do anything to stop no-deal Brexit,” she wails, casting a mournful eye out over the moonlit trees, beyond the three short rows of political correspondents, which together form the totality of the Westminster press corps unfortunate enough not to be on holiday.

“Oh I would do anything to stop no-deal Brexit,” she continues. “I’d run right into Sheffield Hallam and back.”

Read his piece here: 

[15 August 2019 20:30 · Zamira Rahim]

Labour MPs are urging unity on the left as the Brexit crisis continues.

Some are sounding more optimistic than they were this morning.

"Looks like we’re ending the day with the prospect of talks between the opposition parties and Tory MPs opposed to No Deal. Good. This is urgent," said Wes Streeting.

"There is barely any time left and no plan as yet. Time to crack on with it. Everyone should be willing to compromise to get this done."

I'm pleased people are willing to get around the table, we have got to exhaust all options and everyone has to be willing to accept that," added Jess Phillips. 

"It is ridiculous to suggest that the first attempt at least wouldn't be the leader of the official opposition."

[15 August 2019 20:40 · Zamira Rahim]

Sarah Wollaston has said a Jeremy Corbyn-led caretaker government could be the lesser of two evils in an interview with The Guardian.

But she also said she did not believe the move would win the support of any Tory MPs.

“Jeremy Corbyn is being a bit disingenuous here – he knows Conservative MPs are not going to vote confidence in Corbyn, they would be happy to vote no-confidence in Boris Johnson,” she said.

"But it’s much easier for them to vote for a more neutral, elder statement. All Jo is doing is stating the obvious that it simply won’t work. If the point is to get to vote of no confidence through, then it would be better for Corbyn not to link it so directly to his leadership. It kills it, completely.

"“Obviously, as the lesser of two evils, I would have to make a judgment and probably say: you know what, I think it would be worse to have no deal. But you need five or six Tories to do it, and I’m sorry but they are just not going to do it."

It's a notable intervention, from the newest Liberal Democrat MP.