Jeremy Corbyn appeals to Conservative MPs to back no-confidence vote against their own government

In a high-profile speech, Mr Corbyn also agreed that a delay to Brexit appeared to be inevitable

Jeremy Corbyn has urged Conservative MPs to back a no-confidence vote in their own government to end the Brexit deadlock.

The Labour leader appealed to rival parties to unite behind a bid to tear down Theresa May’s administration and force a general election, admitting his party would need the support of Tory rebels to win.

In a high-profile speech, Mr Corbyn agreed that a delay to Brexit appeared to be inevitable, as he vowed Labour would vote down Ms May’s deal in a Commons showdown next week.

However, Mr Corbyn failed to set out a deadline for calling a no-confidence vote, saying only it would be done when it has “the best chance of success”.

This casts doubt on claims from shadow international trade secretary Barry Gardiner on Wednesday that a vote would be tabled “immediately” if Ms May’s deal was defeated.

It comes after it emerged that the prime minister was reaching out to Labour MPs to get her deal over the line, by considering supporting an opposition bid to enshrine EU standards on workers’ rights.

Mr Corbyn told an audience of workers in Wakefield: “So I say to Theresa May – if you are so confident in your deal then call that election and let the people decide.

“If not, Labour will table a motion of no confidence in the government at the moment we judge it to have the best chance of success.

“Clearly, Labour does not have enough MPs in parliament to win a confidence vote on its own. So members across the house should vote with us to break the deadlock.

“This paralysis cannot continue. Uncertainty is putting people’s jobs and livelihoods at risk.”

Labour would need the support of a group of Tory MPs to secure victory in a confidence vote, and possibly the abstention of Ms May’s DUP allies.

Some 17 Conservative rebels, including former ministers, joined forces with Labour to force the government to come up with a plan B within days if the prime minister’s deal was defeated. It is unclear how many might join Labour again in a no-confidence vote.

Mr Corbyn insisted an election was the only way to heal the deep divisions caused by Brexit and claimed Labour could negotiate “a better deal” with the EU.

He also insisted there was no split with his shadow Brexit secretary, Sir Keir Starmer, who was “reflecting practicalities” when he signalled support for an extension to the Article 50 notice.

Asked if he agreed, Mr Corbyn said: “Quite clearly, moving into office at a period right up against the clock, there would need to be time for that negotiation.

“What Keir was doing was reflecting the practicalities of how that negotiation would be undertaken.”

Mr Corbyn immediately rejected the prime minister’s attempts to woo Labour Brexiteers to her cause, saying her deal has “already been quite clearly and emphatically rejected by the TUC and leading trade unions”.

“They say it simply doesn’t guarantee the protections that we are seeking,” he said.

Downing Street has signalled it would “consider very seriously” a plan to protect workers’ rights in the deal, which has been tabled by the Labour MP John Mann, and has the backing of his colleagues Gareth Snell, Caroline Flint and Lisa Nandy.

Brexiteer ministers are also urging the PM to ensure Brexit is forced through – regardless of whether there is a successful vote of no confidence against her government.

One cabinet minister backing the plan told The Independent it would mean Ms May could steer the country out of the EU with or without a deal before going to the polls in early April, adding: “The public are saying, ‘just f***ing get on with it’.”