Boris Johnson news - live: PM tries different route to get December general election after MPs vote against initial bid
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Your support makes all the difference.EU ambassadors have agreed on a Brexit extension until 31 January 2020 – killing off Boris Johnson’s pledge to deliver the UK’s exit from the bloc by Halloween. I
It comes as the prime minister lost his attempt to call an election on 12 December, after failing to achieve a two-thirds majority in the Commons. But the Lib Dems and the SNP have proposed a one-line bill to bypass the FTPA – one that would require only a simple majority to get an election.
No 10 said the government would introduce an “almost identical” one-line bill if Mr Johnson’s initial bid fails. Senior Labour figures condemned Lib Dem leader Jo Swinson’s “sell-out” offer to help the PM secure a December poll.
Corbyn issues conditions for election
The Labour leader says he will support an election when the date of any vote is fixed into law, when the rights of students to vote can be guaranteed and when no-deal is off the table.
This is by and large addressed in the one-line bill for an election tomorrow.
"When no-deal is off the table, when the date for an election can be fixed in law, and when we can ensure students are not being disenfranchised, we will back an election so this country can get the government it needs."
Jo Swinson attacks Labour for lack of support over People's Vote
Liberal Democrat leader says her party has been consistent in wanting to stop Brexit. "We have been leading the campaign for a People's Vote for three and a half years - and 17 times in this House we have laid motion for a People's Vote.
"The official opposition has refused to back wholeheartedly a People's Vote," she says.
"If there is not support for a People's Vote in this parliament," she says then there is a need for a general election to change the parliament.
Downing Street says suggestions Johnson will change seats 'untrue'
During the debate on an early general election, one MP said he had heard "rumours" the prime minister was seeking to switch constituencies if an election is called. He currently represents Uxbridge, but the PM has been a target of Labour and Momentum, who have ploughed energy and resources into the area.
But a Downing Street source said: "Rubbish. Tosh. This is untrue. The PM is focused on delivering Brexit and representing the people of Uxbridge."
Government admits 'Get Ready for Brexit' campaign now paused
Downing Street has admitted its £100m "Get Ready for Brexit" campaign advertising the 31 October Brexit date across the country in newspapers, on billboards, and in train stations and airports, has been "paused".
The Lib Dems' Tom Brake - in response - said: "These adverts were the latest example of the Conservative government pouring money down the drain in reckless pursuit of Boris Johnson’s do-or-die 31st October Brexit deadline.
"The money spent on these adverts could have, and should have, gone into our NHS, our schools, and tackling the climate emergency. Instead it was wasted."
MPs reject Boris Johnson's bid for a general election on 12 December
MPs have voted down the PM's attempt to force an early election on 12 December. He technically won the vote by 299 to 70, but fell short of the two-thirds needed under the Fixed Term Parliaments Act.
But this is not the end of election speculation. It is expected the government will now table a one-line bill, amending the Fixed Term Parliaments Act, to allow for an election in December. If they do so, MPs will start debating this tomorrow.
Unlike today's motion it would need a simple majority, rather than a two-thirds majority as dictated by the Fixed Term Parliaments Act.
Boris Johnson says government will now table Bill for an election
Government will now table a motion for election on 12 November, the PM says. "This paralysis and stagnation should not be allowed to continue," he says.
"It's time for the voters to have a chance to pronounce on the deal."
Jo Swinson responds to Boris Johnson's bill for early election
Jo Swinson responds to government's Bill for election: “The Prime Minister has lost another vote in Parliament. This latest attempt to force his bad Brexit bill through Parliament has failed because this Parliament simply does not trust him.
“Boris Johnson claims he wants a general election, but he also claimed he wouldn’t prorogue Parliament or put a border down the Irish sea. If Boris Johnson wants a General Election, then he could have supported our Bill for a General Election on December 9th. Instead, he has chosen to stick to his original plan for December 12th which we have already rejected.
“Liberal Democrats are the strongest party of Remain and will continue to campaign to stop Brexit, just as we have for the last three years.”
Surge in voter registration applications
Nearly two million people have applied to register to vote in the past eight weeks, as Boris Johnson continues to push for an early general election.
With speculation mounting over the prospect of a December election, government figures showed the number of applications has averaged around a quarter of a million every week.
In total, 1,966,876 applications were submitted in the eight weeks to 27 October – almost double the number for the previous eight weeks.
The new figures come as the campaign group "FckBoris" launched a major advertising scheme on the London underground, highlighting Conservative policy failures over the last nine years.
PM's reveals last ditch attempt for a December election
Boris Johnson has announced the government will this evening table legislation to allow a general election on 12 December.
Plans for a one-line bill were announced by the prime minister minutes after he failed at his third attempt to secure the two-thirds of MPs needed to allow an early poll without changing the law.
Although parliament voted by 299 to 70 to bring forward the election currently scheduled for May 2022, Mr Johnson fell 135 votes short of the 434 MPs needed under the terms of fixed-term parliaments legislation.
The PM said voters would find the actions of Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn – who ordered his MPs to abstain – “utterly bewildering”.
And he said he would press ahead with a bill to override the Fixed Term Parliaments Act, which requires only a simple majority in parliament to succeed.
More than 400,000 people sign letter demanding Final Say referendum
More than 400,000 people have signed a letter demanding a fresh referendum giving the public the Final Say on Brexit.
The open letter, organised jointly by The Independent and the People’s Vote campaign, has received significant backing since being launched just over a week ago.
It followed the latest People’s Vote march, which saw a million people take to the streets of London to demand a fresh public poll.
The letter reads: “We do not want the powerful to force on the people a Brexit that will damage the economy in both the UK and the EU, threaten the peace process in Northern Ireland, as well as lead to years more uncertainty and chaos.
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