WATCH: John McDonnell suggests Labour does not want an election until after 31 October
2 min read
Labour will not back an election until after the crunch European summit on 17 October, according to John McDonnell.
His comments came after a day of behind-the-scenes wrangling between senior Labour figures on when the party should support a snap poll.
Boris Johnson wants to go to the country on 15 October, two days before the EU Council in Brussels.
He has said that if he is still Prime Minister, he will renegotiate the existing Brexit deal at the summit and get it passed by Parliament before the 31 October exit date.
On Wednesday night, MPs defied Mr Johnson by failing to give his election bid the two-thirds majority it needed to pass.
Jeremy Corbyn had appeared to leave the door open for a 15 October poll by saying Labour would support an election once the rebel bill blocking a no-deal Brexit had received Royal Assent at the end of this week.
That put him at odds with Shadow Brexit Secretary Keir Starmer, who had earlier told Labour MPs and the Commons that an election should not happen until after 31 October.
Appearing on ITV's Peston show, Shadow Chancellor Mr McDonnell sided with Sir Keir rather than Mr Corbyn.
Asked when he thought an election would be, he said: "I think later rather than sooner because I don't think people want something before the European Council and it may well be beyond that."
In effect, that would mean an election could not happen until November at the earliest.
That would be deeply uncomfortable for Boris Johnson, who has pledged to take the UK out of the EU "do or die" by 31 October.
Speculation is mounting that the Government could introduce a one-line motion saying there should be an election on 15 October. Crucially, that would over-ride the need for two-thirds of MPs to back it.
In a boost for the Prime Minister, the SNP have indicated they could back an election before the EU Council.
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