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Bloomberg
Boris Johnson accused members of parliament of holding the UK “hostage†ahead of a vote on Monday on an early general election. The prime minister looks set to lose his bid for a snap poll on December 12, after opposition Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn reiterated he’ll only support it if the risk of a no-deal Brexit is removed.
The EU has said it will announce its decision by Tuesday on extending the divorce deadline past October 31.
Johnson needs a two-thirds majority in parliament for early general election to take place; a vote in the House of Commons is on Monday. Corbyn said he won’t vote for an election until the UK is no longer at risk of crashing out of the EU without an agreement.
Liberal Democrats, Scottish National Party (SNP) are working together to try to force a snap poll on December 9, reflecting schism with Labour.
Jo Swinson, leader of the pro-EU Liberal Democrats, urged other parties to back her proposal for a general election on December. She told the BBC on Sunday that “time pressure†meant she was not seeking to use the proposed bill — which is also backed by the Scottish National Party — to secure amendments such as lowering the voting age from 18. “I think we have to pass this as it is drafted,†she said. “We cannot assume we will keep getting an extension to Article 50. We do need to resolve this issue.â€
But Conservative Party Chairman James Cleverly told the BBC the plan was “clearly a gimmick†and the Tories would not support something put forward by two parties who want to see Brexit stopped.
Labour made it clear it won’t support Johnson’s bid for an early general election when the proposal is put to the House of Commons.
A no-deal Brexit must be off the table before the party will consider a snap poll, senior officials said.
The SNP and Liberal Democrats are trying to persuade the government to adopt a bill that overrides the act, requiring only a simple majority to pass. Both parties want an election on December 9 — three days ahead of Johnson’s preferred timetable.