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| Brexit: EU to consider extension as MPs mull election | Brexit: EU to consider extension as MPs mull election |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| EU ambassadors are to meet to discuss what length of Brexit extension to offer the UK, as MPs consider Boris Johnson's call for an early election. | EU ambassadors are to meet to discuss what length of Brexit extension to offer the UK, as MPs consider Boris Johnson's call for an early election. |
| Most EU states are understood to favour a three-month delay, with an option to end earlier if a deal is ratified sooner than this by Parliament. | Most EU states are understood to favour a three-month delay, with an option to end earlier if a deal is ratified sooner than this by Parliament. |
| But France has argued for a shorter extension to the 31 October deadline. | But France has argued for a shorter extension to the 31 October deadline. |
| It comes after the PM said he would give MPs more time to debate his Brexit deal if they backed a 12 December poll. | It comes after the PM said he would give MPs more time to debate his Brexit deal if they backed a 12 December poll. |
| The government has said it plans to bring forward a Commons vote on an early general election on Monday if the EU offers a delay until January, as is widely expected. | The government has said it plans to bring forward a Commons vote on an early general election on Monday if the EU offers a delay until January, as is widely expected. |
| But the chances of enough MPs backing the motion - which under the Fixed-Term Parliaments Act requires the support of two-thirds of MPs - appear uncertain, with Labour not committing to how it plans to vote. | But the chances of enough MPs backing the motion - which under the Fixed-Term Parliaments Act requires the support of two-thirds of MPs - appear uncertain, with Labour not committing to how it plans to vote. |
| On Thursday night, there were reports the party's official position was to abstain on the vote, ending any chance of it gaining enough support. | On Thursday night, there were reports the party's official position was to abstain on the vote, ending any chance of it gaining enough support. |
| But in an interview later, leader Jeremy Corbyn said: "Take no-deal off the table, and we absolutely support an election." | But in an interview later, leader Jeremy Corbyn said: "Take no-deal off the table, and we absolutely support an election." |
| The EU's decision on what length of extension to offer will be discussed in a closed-door meeting in Brussels on Friday morning. | The EU's decision on what length of extension to offer will be discussed in a closed-door meeting in Brussels on Friday morning. |
| Marie Lebec, a member of the French National Assembly representing President Emmanuel Macron's En Marche party, said France would only agree to a delay if it was sure it was not an "extension for nothing". | Marie Lebec, a member of the French National Assembly representing President Emmanuel Macron's En Marche party, said France would only agree to a delay if it was sure it was not an "extension for nothing". |
| "What we need from the UK is really to know what they want," she told BBC Radio 4's Today programme. | "What we need from the UK is really to know what they want," she told BBC Radio 4's Today programme. |
| Mr Johnson was compelled by a law passed by MPs - known as the Benn Act - to send a letter to the bloc requesting a delay until 31 January 2020. | |
| Before sending the letter on Saturday, he had repeatedly promised the UK would leave the EU by Halloween. | Before sending the letter on Saturday, he had repeatedly promised the UK would leave the EU by Halloween. |
| On Friday, Chancellor Sajid Javid said: "We have to accept we won't be able to leave by 31 October." | |
| He told BBC Breakfast the Budget on 6 November would also not be going ahead as planned because "what is more important right now, I think, is getting Brexit done and then having that general election". | |
| Mr Javid said an election would help to bring an end to "this zombie Parliament". | |
| On Thursday, Mr Johnson reiterated he did not want a delay but his preferred option if one was granted was for it to be short - "say to 15 or 30 November". | On Thursday, Mr Johnson reiterated he did not want a delay but his preferred option if one was granted was for it to be short - "say to 15 or 30 November". |
| In a letter written to Mr Corbyn calling for an election, Mr Johnson said if a shorter delay was granted he would try to get his deal through Parliament again, with Labour's support. | In a letter written to Mr Corbyn calling for an election, Mr Johnson said if a shorter delay was granted he would try to get his deal through Parliament again, with Labour's support. |
| BBC Europe correspondent Kevin Connolly said most EU states were prepared to agree an extension until 31 January 2020, with the option for it to end sooner if MPs in the UK ratify a Brexit deal before then. | BBC Europe correspondent Kevin Connolly said most EU states were prepared to agree an extension until 31 January 2020, with the option for it to end sooner if MPs in the UK ratify a Brexit deal before then. |
| He said the EU had hoped the decision on the length of delay would be made on Friday, though it was possible it could be moved until early next week to allow events at Westminster to unfold. | He said the EU had hoped the decision on the length of delay would be made on Friday, though it was possible it could be moved until early next week to allow events at Westminster to unfold. |
| A stand-off could emerge, he added, where the EU wants to wait to see how Parliament reacts to the election proposal, while MPs want to first see what sort of extension will be offered. | A stand-off could emerge, he added, where the EU wants to wait to see how Parliament reacts to the election proposal, while MPs want to first see what sort of extension will be offered. |
| Our correspondent added that there could be an emergency summit in Brussels on Monday to allow leaders to reach an agreement if no decision was made on Friday. | Our correspondent added that there could be an emergency summit in Brussels on Monday to allow leaders to reach an agreement if no decision was made on Friday. |
| 'Take no-deal off the table' | 'Take no-deal off the table' |
| Responding to Mr Johnson, Mr Corbyn said on Thursday: "Take no-deal off the table and we absolutely support a general election. | Responding to Mr Johnson, Mr Corbyn said on Thursday: "Take no-deal off the table and we absolutely support a general election. |
| "I've been calling for an election ever since the last one because this country needs one to deal with all the social injustice issues - but no-deal must be taken off the table. | "I've been calling for an election ever since the last one because this country needs one to deal with all the social injustice issues - but no-deal must be taken off the table. |
| "The EU will decide whether there is an extension... and then we can decide." | "The EU will decide whether there is an extension... and then we can decide." |
| Should enough MPs back an election, they would have until 6 November to debate Mr Johnson's Brexit deal, the government has said. | Should enough MPs back an election, they would have until 6 November to debate Mr Johnson's Brexit deal, the government has said. |
| Mr Johnson said it would be "morally incredible" if opposition MPs refused to go along with his plan. | Mr Johnson said it would be "morally incredible" if opposition MPs refused to go along with his plan. |
| It comes after MPs voted on Tuesday to back the first stage of the prime minister's Withdrawal Agreement Bill - putting the deal he agreed with Brussels into law - but rejected his plan to push it through the Commons in three days. | It comes after MPs voted on Tuesday to back the first stage of the prime minister's Withdrawal Agreement Bill - putting the deal he agreed with Brussels into law - but rejected his plan to push it through the Commons in three days. |
| Boris Johnson cannot be remotely sure Labour and the smaller parties will let him have his way. The SNP and the Lib Dems are both tempted to go for an election as soon as a three-month delay is agreed. | Boris Johnson cannot be remotely sure Labour and the smaller parties will let him have his way. The SNP and the Lib Dems are both tempted to go for an election as soon as a three-month delay is agreed. |
| The Labour Party's official position has always been that they would agree to an election. In fact, officially, they are chomping at the bit, like the other parties, as long as a delay is agreed. | The Labour Party's official position has always been that they would agree to an election. In fact, officially, they are chomping at the bit, like the other parties, as long as a delay is agreed. |
| One senior member of the shadow cabinet predicted they would not be able to withstand the pressure if the Lib Dems and the SNP said yes. | One senior member of the shadow cabinet predicted they would not be able to withstand the pressure if the Lib Dems and the SNP said yes. |
| Jeremy Corbyn himself, and certainly one group in his camp, are understood to be very tempted, too. But, just as in 2017, lots of Labour MPs are horrified at the idea, partly because of Labour's standing in the polls. | Jeremy Corbyn himself, and certainly one group in his camp, are understood to be very tempted, too. But, just as in 2017, lots of Labour MPs are horrified at the idea, partly because of Labour's standing in the polls. |
| But also, there are senior shadow cabinet ministers who believe the smart thing would be to leave the PM in his purgatory, twisting, unable to get his bill through, unable to get to an election. | But also, there are senior shadow cabinet ministers who believe the smart thing would be to leave the PM in his purgatory, twisting, unable to get his bill through, unable to get to an election. |
| Read the full article | Read the full article |
| Where parties stand on election | Where parties stand on election |