Jeremy Corbyn: 'It is not up to Jo Swinson to decide who will be next PM'

The Labour leader says he is "disappointed" by Jo Swinson's dismissal of his plan to oust Boris Johnson and stop a no-deal Brexit.

By Alan McGuinness, political reporter,

Image: Jo Swinson says she would be willing to hold talks with Jeremy Corbyn 'in the coming days'

Jeremy Corbyn has said he hopes the Lib Dems will reverse their opposition to his plan to stop a no-deal Brexit, declaring it is "not up to Jo Swinson to decide who the next prime minister is going to be".
The Labour leader said he was "disappointed" by Ms Swinson's dismissal of his idea to become caretaker prime minister to block such a scenario from happening.

However, the Lib Dem leader has since said she would be willing to hold talks with Mr Corbyn "in the coming days".

Image: Jo Swinson has insisted Mr Corbyn is not the right person for such a role

On Thursday, Mr Corbyn wrote to the leaders of other political parties and senior backbenchers to set out his proposals to stop the UK leaving the EU without a withdrawal agreement at the end of October.
He wants to oust Mr Johnson from 10 Downing Street through a no-confidence vote, before forming a caretaker government that would seek a further delay to Brexit and arrange a general election.

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Mr Corbyn also confirmed Labour would enter a general election committed to a referendum on the terms of leaving the EU, including an option to Remain.
The plan has received a mixed response.

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The SNP and Plaid Cymru have suggested they could support Mr Corbyn's idea, while a number of Conservative MPs opposed to no-deal have indicated they would hold talks with him.
Mr Corbyn spoke with the SNP's Westminster leader Ian Blackford on Friday to discuss how to work together to stop a no-deal Brexit.
But Ms Swinson was quick to dismiss it, before later backtracking.
Asked about the Lib Dem opposition to his plan, Mr Corbyn said: "We're going to put a motion of no confidence in this government in order to bring about a general election, so the British people have a chance to decide on their own future and prevent a no-deal exit from the European Union.
"I thought Jo Swinson supported that position and I hope she will come round to it."

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Although Ms Swinson has said she is prepared to hold talks with the Labour leader, she still views his strategy as not "viable".
She has suggested Conservative former chancellor Ken Clarke, or ex-Labour deputy leader Harriet Harman, as "respected" long-serving MPs who could instead lead an emergency government.
Speaking to the BBC on Friday, Ms Swinson said both Mr Clarke and Ms Harman were prepared to lead an emergency government.
But Mr Corbyn gave this idea short shrift, saying: "I'm the leader of the opposition, I'm the leader of the Labour Party.
"Under the normal constitutional processes in Britain, when a government collapses, the leader of the main opposition party is called upon to form a government.
"We are ready to do that."

Corbyn told to drop 'ego' as temporary PM plan rejected

In separate comments to the Press Association, the Labour leader said it was "not up to Jo Swinson to decide who the next prime minister is going to be".
"Surely she must recognise she is a leader of one of the opposition parties who are apparently opposed to this government, and apparently prepared to support a motion of no confidence," he said.
"I look forward to joining her in the lobbies to vote this government down."
Tories Dominic Grieve, Sir Oliver Letwin and Dame Caroline Spelman have agreed to meet with Mr Corbyn to discuss his proposals, although Sky News understands Dame Caroline wouldn't support a Corbyn-led government "in any circumstance".
And on Friday Mr Grieve signalled he would not be backing the Labour leader's plan, saying instead that he was prepared to work with like-minded MPs to avoid a "catastrophic" no-deal.

Labour's plan for 'interim' government explained

"In that context, I'm prepared to speak to any parliamentarian who shares that view, including the leader of the opposition," the Guardian quoted him as saying.
"If he is against no deal, I'm happy to talk. That is very different to thinking he is an appropriate figure to lead a government.
"Jeremy Corbyn is unfortunately a deeply divisive figure and in trying to stop a no-deal Brexit it is not my purpose to help him into Downing Street."
Business minister Kwasi Kwarteng told Sky News he thought the government would win a no-confidence vote.
The idea of Mr Corbyn leading an emergency government was "ridiculous", he added.