How does a no confidence vote work in Parliament?

Jeremy Corbyn has tabled a motion of no confidence in the Government in an attempt to force a general election.

It is the first time the procedure has been used under the provisions of the Fixed Term Parliaments Act passed by the coalition government under David Cameron.

Mr Corbyn will move the motion tabled in his name as Leader of the Opposition and will speak first in the debate scheduled for Wednesday afternoon.

The Prime Minister will then speak for the Government and at the end of proceedings at 7.00pm MPs will vote.

• What happens after MPs have voted?

If the Government wins there will not be a general election and ministers will carry on in office.

If the Government loses, the Act states there must be an "early" election unless the Government can regain the confidence of the House by winning a confidence vote within 14 days.

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• A history of confidence votes in the House of Commons

During that two-week period there is no statutory limit on how many times a confidence motion can be brought forward and voted on.

In the course of that period the opposition may seek to form alliances within the Commons to demonstrate they are the party most likely to command the confidence of the House and therefore should be given the opportunity to form a government.