Boris Johnson's election plans in chaos as opposition parties say they could withhold support
3 min read
Boris Johnson's attempt to hold an election on 12 December were left hanging in the balance after opposition parties warned they could withhold support for it.
The Prime Minister said MPs will be given a vote on a snap poll on Monday under the Fixed Term Parliaments Act.
However, he will need two-thirds of MPs - 434 of the total - in order to pass it.
Mr Johnson made the announcement following an emergency Cabinet meeting in which some members of his top team warned him against an early election.
Instead they want him to have another attempt at delivering Brexit by passing the Withdrawal Agreement Bill.
In a letter to Jeremy Corbyn setting out his plans, the PM said he would "make available all possible time" until 6 November - the date when he wants to dissolve Parliament - for the Commons to debate his Brexit plans, but only if Labour agrees to back an election.
Speaking to the BBC, Mr Johnson said: "The way to get his done is to be reasonable with Parliament and say if they genuinely want more time to study this excellent deal they can have it, but they have to agree to a eneral election on 12 December."
Jeremy Corbyn has twice ordered Labour MPs to vote against a general election in recent weeks, arguing that he would only do so once it became clear that the UK could not leave the EU without a deal on 31 October.
The PM added: "It is time, frankly, the opposition summoned up the nerve to face our collective boss, which is the UK."
But the early indications were that Labour, along with the other opposition parties in Parliament, will not support his election bid.
Labour said the chances of a no-deal Brexit would have to be ruled out completely before they could back it.
Responding to the announcement in the Commons, Shadow Commons leader Valerie Vaz said: "Her Majesty's Opposition will back an election ... if a no-deal is ruled out."
Shadow Culture Secretary Dan Carden tweeted: "Labour backs a General Election once an extension is secured and No Deal is taken off the table. Our party of 500,000 members & millions of trade unionists will run the campaign of a lifetime to return a Labour Government for the many."
Jeremy Corbyn was holding a meeting with his senior frontbenchers to agree Labour's approach to Monday's vote.
But one pro-Remain Labour source told PoliticsHome: "Several Shadow Cabinet Ministers are in a state of utter despair that we are walking into the two-mile wide trap that's been set for the party, and that nobody in Jeremy's office or his Pro-Leave faction seems either to understand or care."
Shadow Brexit Secretary Keir Starmer, Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell and deputy leader Tom Watson are among those known to think there should be a second EU referendum before an election.
For the SNP, Pete Wishart said: "We need to see that extension secured and that extension must be long enough to protect us from the cliff-edge of a no-deal Brexit. We will not be pushed by this Prime Minister."
And Plaid Cymru leader Adam Price said: "This is an increasingly desperate Prime Minister who has run out of road.
"The UK government has no coherent plan to end the Brexit chaos and a general election will not solve the crisis
"Our priority remains delivering a final say referendum, rather than an election, as the clearest way to end the Brexit chaos."
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