Boris Johnson news - live: Bid for pre-Christmas election gathers support, as PM holds surprise Brexit meeting with Corbyn
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Boris Johnson has been forced to “pause” his Brexit deal legislation after MPs rejected his plans to fast-track his withdrawal agreement bill through the Commons before his “do or die” 31 October deadline.
After surprise talks between Mr Johnson and Jeremy Corbyn on Wednesday, a Labour spokesperson said Mr Corbyn had “restated that Labour will support a general election when the threat of a no deal crash out is off the table.”
SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon said she would be “very happy” to have a pre-Christmas election. Justice secretary Robert Buckland said an election “seems to me to be the only way to break this impasse”, while his Labour shadow Richard Burgon, asked if the party would help trigger an election once the threat of a Halloween no deal was removed, replied: “Yes.”
Kay Burley reminds Labour frontbencher ‘you lost’ last election
Plenty of people online sharing this clip of Sky News’ Kay Burley speaking to Labour’s shadow justice secretary Richard Burgon about how he would “like to see an election before Christmas”.
“The polls say you won’t win,” said Burley.
“The polls said we wouldn’t last time,” said Burgon.
“You didn’t,” Burley replied. She told him: “You still lost.”
Tories have solid poll lead, as general election talk builds
Labour may be sticking to its pledge to agree to a general election if a no-deal Brexit is taken off the table, but would the party really welcome a snap vote before Christmas?
Here’s a look at the latest voting intention polls, courtesy of our friends at Statista.
Most recent voting intention polls (Statista)
Michael Heseltine predicts hung parliament
The Tory veteran and former deputy PM Michel Heseltine has been asked about the prospects of a general election.
“Of course he’ll get an extension from Europe,” he told Sky News. “So where do we go from here? The one I think is the most chilling is an election … I don’t know when there will be election, but it’ll come ... The important things is to differentiate between Brexit and all these other issues.”
Asked whether Boris Johnson will win an election, he said: “No, I don’t.” he told Sky News.
“They are going to lose seats in Scotland and they’re going to lose seats to the Lib Dems. I think they have alienated the Irish to such an extent that they won’t come back and support them, so you can see quite clearly where the Tories are going to lose seats.
“And I know where they think and how they think they can win Labour seats, but when it comes to it that’s a pretty big gamble.
“My own guess is that a general election will be a re-run of what we have today, another period of uncertainty.”
Boris Johnson appalled by ‘tragic’ incident in Essex
The prime minister has responded to the murder investigation launched in Essex after 39 bodies were found in a lorry container in Thurrock.
Boris Johnson behaving like a toddler
The prime minister’s strop in the Commons last night – a toddler in a tantrum – is the subject of our latest editorial.
The prime minister has made various wild threats, despite being forced to accept it was now up to the EU to decide what happens next. MPs should ignore the bluster and get on with the job of scrutinising his bill.
Labour MP suggests many in the party wouldn’t vote for election
Labour MP Ben Bradshaw hints that his fellow backbenchers might not support the party leadership’s position on agreeing to a general election once no deal is off the table.
Remember, under the Fixed-Term Parliament Act, there needs to be two-thirds majority in the Commons before an early election can happen.
Leo Varadkar chats with Donald Tusk about 'flextension'
The Irish premier’s office has released a statement about Leo Varadkar discussing a possible extension with Donald Tusk.
Intriguingly, they both “noted that it would still be possible for the UK to leave before January 31st 2020” – if the deal is passed before then. This is the “flextension” that’s been talked about this morning.
“Leo Varadkar spoke with the President of the European Council, Donald Tusk this morning regarding the UK’s request for an extension,” the statement reads.
“The Taoiseach confirmed his support for President Tusk’s proposal to grant the request for an extension which was sought by the UK.
“They noted that it would still be possible for the UK to leave before January 31st 2020 if the Withdrawal Agreement has been ratified in advance of that date.
“The matter is likely to be discussed further at tonight’s meeting of the Committee of Permanent Representatives in Brussels.”
So it looks very much like 31 January, 2020 – the date the prime minister was forced by parliament to officially request in his Saturday night letter to Brussels – is the date EU chiefs are focusing on.
European Parliament chief says three-month extension 'advisable'
More confirmation that 31 January 2020 date is the focus of the EU’s discussions about an extension.
David Sassoli, president of the European Parliament, said he supported the idea of a three-month extension.
In a statement, Sassoli: “After the vote of the British Parliament to allow more time to examine details of the withdrawal agreement and Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s decision to pause the bill following the vote, the British government’s request for an extension until January 31 remains on the table.
“I think it is advisable, as requested by President Donald Tusk, that the European Council should accept this extension.
“This extension will allow the United Kingdom to clarify its position and the European Parliament to exercise its role.”
DUP tells Northern Ireland secretary Brexit deal is ‘despicable’
The Northern Ireland secretary Julian Smith speaking at the Northern Ireland committee this morning, telling MPs that GB/NI goods checks will be minimal under the Brexit deal struck by the prime minister.
But neither the DUP’s Ian Paisley Jr or Jim Shannon are in the mood to listen patiently to the minister’s assurances. Shannon has referred to the “tattered” Union flag.
Our correspondent Lizzy Buchan has been following exchanges at the committee.
Boris Johnson meeting Jeremy Corbyn to strike deal?
According to The Times’ Frances Elliot, the prime minister is meeting the leader of the opposition to talk about a new timetable to debate – and possibly amend – his Brexit bill. If true, will a general election come up too?
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