McDONNELL PURRS

The resignation of Andrea Leadsom tonight may be the straw that breaks May's back.  Some in Labour smell blood, but shouldn't they be careful what they wish for?  May is dreadful and it's unlikely that such a hapless quisling will succeed her.  For May to go now could prove disastrous for Labour at a time when they clearly have the Tories on the ropes and PM Corbyn is almost inevitable.  As bad as May is, she still has a higher leadership approval rating than Jezza, so for her to be replaced by someone even marginally better could revive a dying party.

Wishful thinking from McDonnell here, just because a Prime Minister resigns doesn't mean the reins pass to the opposition.  It didn't when Blair left office and it didn't when Cameron jumped ship.

The government is disintegrating rapidly with the resignation of the Leader of House & the PM barricading herself in No 10. If the PM resigns Labour should be given the opportunity of forming a government. Unlikely any of the putative Tory leaders will command a Commons majority.

— John McDonnell MP (@johnmcdonnellMP) May 22, 2019

Remainers smell blood too.

If Lidington becomes acting PM this is a big advance for the second referendum because he basically supports one & could allow it to be agreed by Parliament before the Tories have a new leader https://t.co/dw3fLzeIT7

— Andrew Adonis (@Andrew_Adonis) 22 May 2019