Boris Johnson to meet cabinet members within hours as Number 10 source hints at snap election

Meeting comes on the eve of an expected rebel bid to block a no-deal Brexit

Expectations of a snap general election have risen sharply, after Boris Johnson summoned his cabinet to a surprise meeting on the eve of an expected rebel bid to block no-deal Brexit.

The PM will address all Conservative MPs at a pre-planned start-of-term reception in the Downing Street garden shortly after meeting his top team to discuss Tuesday's expected challenge.

It is understood that Number 10 is ready to treat any attempt by MPs to take control of the legislative agenda as a vote of confidence in the new PM's EU stance.

Confirming the cabinet meeting, a Number 10 source said: "They will discuss the Government’s response to MPs seeking to take control of legislative agenda away from the Government and handing it to the opposition and (Jeremy) Corbyn without the consent of the people.

"The view is that tomorrow’s possible vote is an expression of confidence in the Government’s negotiating position to secure a deal and will be treated as such."

However, it is not thought likely that any challenge would be framed in such a way that it would automatically trigger an early election under the terms of the Fixed Term Parliaments Act.

If an election was called in the next few days, it could take place on 17 October - a fortnight before the Halloween deadline for Brexit and on the date of a crunch Brussels summit at which it could become clear whether a deal can be done.

A ‘rebel alliance’ taking in Labour, Liberal Democrats and other opposition parties along with Tories opposed to a no-deal Brexit is expected to request an emergency debate in the House of Commons on Tuesday.

If approved - as expected - by Speaker John Bercow, they would use the debate to try to seize control of the Commons agenda on Wednesday to pass a bill blocking a no-deal Brexit or requiring the prime minister to request an extension of negotiations beyond the current deadline of 31 October.

During the passage of Brexit through the commons he has often been seen as facilitating MPs in using niche parliamentary conventions to frustrate Government business (Reuters)

Securing cabinet agreement that Tuesday’s vote should be treated as a confidence issue would make it easier for Mr Johnson to press ahead with his threats to withdraw the Tory whip from any MPs who fail to vote with the government and ensure that they do not stand as candidates for the party in a future election.

Doubts remain over whether the government will comply with any legislation, after no-deal supremo Michael Gove refused in a TV interview on Sunday to confirm that it would abide by the decisions of parliament.

Mr Johnson’s official spokesman today said that “every government adheres to the law”, but declined to be drawn on its specific response to the expected votes.

Downing Street sought to step up pressure on Conservative MPs not to back any legislation which would block Mr Johnson from pursuing a no-deal Brexit, arguing that this would tie his hands in negotiations with Brussels.

The spokesman said it would be “entirely unreasonable for MPs – having rejected the previous deal three times – to attempt to bind the hands of the prime minister as he seeks to negotiate a deal they can support ahead of the European Council in October”.

Under the Fixed-Term Parliaments Act passed by David Cameron's coalition government, the prime minister requires a two-thirds majority in the Commons to call an election before June 2022. Crucially, under this scenario, he would have control of the timing of the election.

If the PM loses a confidence vote in the Commons by a single vote, an election will follow unless an alternative government wins the support of the House within the next 14 days.