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Brexit election: Government rejects Lib Dem-SNP poll bid Brexit election: Government to 'look at options' if poll bid fails
(32 minutes later)
Conservative Party chairman James Cleverly has dismissed as a "gimmick" an attempt from the Liberal Democrats and the Scottish National Party to trigger a 9 December election. Downing Street is prepared to look at other options should its plans for an election fail, a Number 10 source says.
Their bill depends on the EU granting an extension until 31 January, which the government does not want. The government will table a motion calling for a 12 December election on Monday, but this needs support from two-thirds of MPs.
Mr Cleverly also said he was "cynical" as the bill would be amendable - so MPs can suggest changes to it. However the Liberal Democrats and SNP want to introduce a bill that enshrines a 9 December poll in law subject to a Brexit extension to 31 January.
Lib Dem leader Jo Swinson said the bill would avert no-deal in the short term. Earlier, Conservative James Cleverly dismissed this plan as a "gimmick".
She said the bill would enshrine their proposed election date into law. The Lib Dem-SNP bill amends the Fixed-term Parliaments Act 2011 to include the date of 9 December as the next general election and this would come into force if the EU decides to extend the Brexit process to a date no earlier than 31 January.
The Lib Dems and SNP have said they reject the government's election date, which they believe would allow time for the PM to "ram through" his Brexit Bill. BBC political correspondent Jessica Parker said it was significant as this method would only require a simple majority than the the two-thirds required to back the prime minister's motion for an election on 12 December.
The prime minister has said if MPs support a vote on Monday in the Commons for an election on 12 December, he will use the remaining time before Parliament is dissolved on 6 November to try to pass the legislation for his Brexit deal. A number 10 source said: "Tomorrow MPs will vote on an election on 12 December so we can get a new Parliament.
"If Labour oppose being held to account by the people yet again, then we will look at all options to get Brexit done including ideas similar to that proposed by other opposition parties."
'Cynical'
Speaking to the BBC's Andrew Marr Show, Mr Cleverly said of the Lib Dem-SNP bill: "It's clearly a gimmick.Speaking to the BBC's Andrew Marr Show, Mr Cleverly said of the Lib Dem-SNP bill: "It's clearly a gimmick.
"Their bill moves the election date by three days, takes the withdrawal agreement completely off the table.""Their bill moves the election date by three days, takes the withdrawal agreement completely off the table."
He said the government had put forward proposals for a general election first.He said the government had put forward proposals for a general election first.
"What we're not going to do is, we're not going to listen to two parties who have explicitly said they want to stop Brexit from happening," he said."What we're not going to do is, we're not going to listen to two parties who have explicitly said they want to stop Brexit from happening," he said.
"We're not going to be complicit in them stopping Brexit from happening.""We're not going to be complicit in them stopping Brexit from happening."
'A simple bill' Mr Cleverly also said he was "cynical" as the bill would be amendable - so MPs can suggest changes to it.
Mr Johnson's plan for an election would require the agreement of two-thirds of MPs, under the Fixed Term Parliaments Act rules for calling an early general election.
The Lib Dem and SNP bill would only need a simple majority, if they can get the Parliamentary time for it to be debated.
Asked about possible amendments to her proposed bill, Ms Swinson told the BBC's Andrew Marr Show that although any bill in Parliament can be amended, "the intention is very much that this is a simple bill that can be passed through Parliament quickly".Asked about possible amendments to her proposed bill, Ms Swinson told the BBC's Andrew Marr Show that although any bill in Parliament can be amended, "the intention is very much that this is a simple bill that can be passed through Parliament quickly".
She said the "time pressure" involved in securing a poll before their desired 31 January deadline meant the party would not pursue amendments such as votes for 16-year-olds to the bill.She said the "time pressure" involved in securing a poll before their desired 31 January deadline meant the party would not pursue amendments such as votes for 16-year-olds to the bill.