Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has called Theresa May's administration a "zombie government" that "cannot govern" as he called for a general election. Opening a debate on a no-confidence motion, Mr Corbyn said the government "should do the right thing and resign" after Tuesday night's record-breaking defeat on its Brexit legislation. The prime minister said an election was "simply not in the national interest". The no-confidence vote is expected to be held at about 19:00 GMT. Mr Corbyn's motion is backed by MPs from the SNP, Lib Dems, Plaid Cymru and Green Party. But senior Labour figures accept it is not likely to succeed, as she has the backing of Tory rebels and the DUP's 10 MPs, - who less than 24 hours ago helped inflict a humiliating defeat on her. Labour says further no-confidence votes could follow if this one fails. Mr Corbyn told MPs: "The prime minister has consistently claimed that her deal, which has been decisively rejected, was good for Britain workers and business… she should have nothing to fear by going to the people." He added that 2011's Fixed-term Parliaments Act "was never intended to prop up a zombie government", saying that the prime minister had "lost control" and suffered an "historic and humiliating defeat". But Mrs May said it was Parliament that decided to put the question of European Union membership to the people, "and now Parliament must finish the job". She said extending Article 50, the legal mechanism taking the UK out of the EU on 29 March, to allow time for an election would mean "delaying Brexit for who knows how long". Tory MP for Croydon South, Chris Philip, accused Mr Corbyn of "shameless political opportunism", which put "party interests ahead of national interests". And James Morris, Tory MP for Halesowen and Rowley Regis, said the motion was "merely a tactical device by the opposition to cause chaos". But other MPs backed Mr Corbyn, with Labour's Stephen Doughty saying his leader was "absolutely right" to call for a general election. Earlier, at Prime Minister's Questions, Mrs May said she would listen to the views of MPs on Brexit in order to "identify what could command the support of this House". She has offered cross-party talks on finding a way forward, but has not so far invited the Labour leader to take part in them. SNP Westminster leader Ian Blackford said the rejection of Mrs May's deal had been the "last straw" and the "only way forward" was to extend Article 50 and legislate for a "people's vote" - which the prime minister has said will not happen. Former prime minister gives backing David Cameron, who resigned the day after the UK voted in 2016 to leave the EU, said he hoped, and thought, Mrs May would win Wednesday's vote. AFP.