Given Theresa May has just suffered the biggest Commons thumping in history – a majority of 232 against her Brexit deal – it might appear obvious that MPs lack confidence in her.

However, for Jeremy Corbyn to have any chance of the general election he craves, the Commons must deliver that verdict on a specific motion, in a vote on Wednesday night.

It is the first time the procedure has been used under the terms of the 2011 Fixed Term Parliaments Act – without which the prime minister would almost certainly have resigned already.

Jeremy Corbyn launches bid to topple Theresa May in aftermath of major Brexit defeat