Brexit news: Nicola Sturgeon says confidence motion in Government could pass in Commons as she urges Labour to trigger the vote

Scotland's first minister has said that a confidence motion against the Government could succeed in Parliament, piling pressure on the Labour Party to trigger such a vote.

Nicola Sturgeon told Sky New's Sophy Ridge on Sunday "we think Labour should table a confidence motion" as she claimed the opposition party is as big a block to Brexit progress as the Tories.

She said: "I think it is possible that a confidence motion right now could succeed. This is a government that is weak and unstable and becoming more weak and unstable with every day that passes."

The first minister added that a no confidence motion in Parliament would "help clarify Labour's position" even if it failed to topple the Government.

She said: "Labour's position right now is it won't back a second EU referendum until it has tried and failed to trigger a general election, but if it won't try to trigger a general election then we're in this catch-22 position.

"It seems to me right now that Labour is as much of a barrier to making progress on Brexit as the Tories are."

Ms Sturgeon's comments following a week of political chaos in Westminster that saw Theresa May postpone a so-called "meaningful vote" on her controversial Brexit deal.

Following outrage from MPs over the move, Mrs May then narrowly survived a vote of confidence in her leadership before travelling to a summit of European leaders to seek assurances on backstop proposals for the Irish border.

But she returned to the UK empty-handed as EU leaders suggested there could be no further negotiation on the Withdrawal Agreement.

Ms Sturgeon told Sky News it was time for Labour to table a confidence vote in the Government.

She said: "If it does so the SNP will support that.

"I think it is possible that a confidence motion right now could succeed.

"This is a Government that is weak and unstable and is becoming more weak and unstable with every day that passes."

She added: "But even if it didn't pass at the first time of asking there is another merit in having a confidence motion called.

"It would help clarify Labour's position. Labour's position right now is that won't back a second EU referendum until it has tried and failed to trigger a general election. But if it won't try then we are in this catch 22 position.

"It seems to me that Labour is as much a barrier to making progress on Brexit as the Tories are so we think there should be a confidence motion and we'll continue to talk to other opposition parties."

Ms Sturgeon also argued that a second referendum is the only way to sort out "this whole sorry mess".

She added that the option to remain in the EU should be offered.

Education Secretary Damien Hinds today played down reports that members of the Cabinet have discussed a second Brexit vote.

Asked if Cabinet had talked about the issue, Mr Hinds told Sky News: "No. Government policy couldn't be clearer. We are here to act on the will of the British people clearly expressed in the referendum."

It comes after Cabinet Office Minister David Lidington, Mrs May's defacto deputy, has met Labour MPs to discuss a cross-party consensus on the idea of a new vote, according to the Sunday Times.

And Mrs May's chief of staff, Gavin Barwell, was forced to deny reports reports he is planning a second referendum on EU membership.

The Mail on Sunday reported Mr Barwell to have said a "second vote is the only way out of this" to pro-Remain Cabinet ministers.

This morning he tweeted: "Happy to confirm I am *not* planning a 2nd referendum with political opponents (or anyone else to anticipate the next question)."