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Brexit: Johnson agrees to Brexit extension - but urges election Brexit: Johnson agrees to Brexit extension - but urges election
(30 minutes later)
Labour has "run out of excuses" for opposing an early general election, Boris Johnson has said, as he made a fresh push for a poll in December.Labour has "run out of excuses" for opposing an early general election, Boris Johnson has said, as he made a fresh push for a poll in December.
He said "nobody relished" going to the polls in winter - but this Parliament had "run its course" and was "incapable" of delivering Brexit.He said "nobody relished" going to the polls in winter - but this Parliament had "run its course" and was "incapable" of delivering Brexit.
The PM has formally accepted the EU's offer of a Brexit extension until 31 January 2020 agreed earlier on Monday.The PM has formally accepted the EU's offer of a Brexit extension until 31 January 2020 agreed earlier on Monday.
In a letter to EU officials, he said it was an "unwanted prolongation".In a letter to EU officials, he said it was an "unwanted prolongation".
EU Council President Donald Tusk said it was a "flextension" - meaning the UK could leave before the deadline if a deal was approved by Parliament. Urging the EU to rule out any further extension, he said there was time to ratify his Brexit deal but he feared the current Parliament would never do so "as long as it has the option of further delay".
It comes as MPs prepare to vote on proposals by Boris Johnson for an early general election on 12 December. The PM's acceptance means that the UK will not leave the EU on Thursday - despite a "do or die" promise he repeatedly made during this summer's Tory leadership campaign and since taking office in July.
The SNP and Lib Dems have also proposed an election - on 9 December. EU Council President Donald Tusk said what was being offered was a "flextension" - meaning the UK could leave before the deadline if a deal was approved by Parliament.
Speaking in the Commons, Mr Johnson said Labour was the only main opposition party opposing an election, telling Mr Corbyn that he "can run but he cannot hide" from the electorate. It comes as MPs prepare to vote on the PM's proposals for an early general election on 12 December. The SNP and Lib Dems have also proposed an election - on 9 December. The vote is expected after 1900 GMT.
But in response, Mr Corbyn said he did not trust Mr Johnson. "Today he wants an election and his bill - not with our endorsement. How can we trust him that he will stick to that date." 'Run and hide'
Speaking in the Commons, Mr Johnson said Labour was the only main opposition party scared of an election, telling Mr Corbyn that he "can run but he cannot hide" from the electorate.
But in response, Mr Corbyn said he did not trust Mr Johnson and he would not agree to a poll until the prospect of a no-deal exit had been definitively ruled out.
"Today he wants an election and his bill - not with our endorsement. How can we trust him that he will stick to that date?"
He said there had not been a December election since 1923 and holding it then risked "disenfranchising" students, many of whom would have left for the Christmas holidays.
A No 10 source said the government would introduce a bill "almost identical" to the Lib Dem/SNP option on Tuesday if Labour voted their plan down later, and "we will have a pre-Christmas election anyway".A No 10 source said the government would introduce a bill "almost identical" to the Lib Dem/SNP option on Tuesday if Labour voted their plan down later, and "we will have a pre-Christmas election anyway".
The SNP's Westminster leader Ian Blackford said it would only support a poll "on its terms" and suggested this could depend on 16 and 17-year olds and EU nationals being given the vote.
The UK was due to leave the EU on Thursday, but Mr Johnson was required to request an extension after Parliament failed to agree a Brexit deal.The UK was due to leave the EU on Thursday, but Mr Johnson was required to request an extension after Parliament failed to agree a Brexit deal.
The prime minister had repeatedly said the UK would leave on 31 October deadline with or without a deal, but the law - known as the Benn Act - requires him to accept the EU's extension offer.The prime minister had repeatedly said the UK would leave on 31 October deadline with or without a deal, but the law - known as the Benn Act - requires him to accept the EU's extension offer.
The Lib Dem/SNP plan does not include a new timetable for his legislation - the Withdrawal Agreement Bill.The Lib Dem/SNP plan does not include a new timetable for his legislation - the Withdrawal Agreement Bill.
They want the 9 December because it would not leave enough time for the bill to become law before Parliament is dissolved - which must happen a minimum of 25 working days before an election.They want the 9 December because it would not leave enough time for the bill to become law before Parliament is dissolved - which must happen a minimum of 25 working days before an election.
The BBC's political editor, Laura Kuenssberg, said she understands the government has offered to fix the election date on 12 December, but a Lib Dem source told her they were holding firm to their date, adding: "If we are doing this, we are not doing it on the government's terms."The BBC's political editor, Laura Kuenssberg, said she understands the government has offered to fix the election date on 12 December, but a Lib Dem source told her they were holding firm to their date, adding: "If we are doing this, we are not doing it on the government's terms."
Labour MPs are expected to abstain in the Commons vote on a 12 December election.Labour MPs are expected to abstain in the Commons vote on a 12 December election.
It comes as government figures showed a surge in voter registrations, with nearly two million registering in the past eight weeks.It comes as government figures showed a surge in voter registrations, with nearly two million registering in the past eight weeks.
Over half of the applications - 58% - were from voters aged 34 or under, compared to just 7% for those over 65.Over half of the applications - 58% - were from voters aged 34 or under, compared to just 7% for those over 65.
The swell coincided with Mr Johnson's first proposal, in early September, for a snap election.The swell coincided with Mr Johnson's first proposal, in early September, for a snap election.
The EU has finally announced its informal approval of a new Brexit extension - but what an excruciatingly long and confusing political dance to get there. And the dance is not over yet.The EU has finally announced its informal approval of a new Brexit extension - but what an excruciatingly long and confusing political dance to get there. And the dance is not over yet.
To become a formal offer, the Brexit extension still needs to be accepted by UK PM Boris Johnson. This is EU law and an unavoidable part of the procedure.To become a formal offer, the Brexit extension still needs to be accepted by UK PM Boris Johnson. This is EU law and an unavoidable part of the procedure.
But how uncomfortable for the prime minister who sought to distance himself as much as possible from the extension, previously promising that he would rather die in a ditch than request one.But how uncomfortable for the prime minister who sought to distance himself as much as possible from the extension, previously promising that he would rather die in a ditch than request one.
The EU is also attaching some extra wording to the extension - including a reminder for the UK that, until it leaves, it remains a fully paid up member of the EU, including all the rights and obligations that go along with membership.The EU is also attaching some extra wording to the extension - including a reminder for the UK that, until it leaves, it remains a fully paid up member of the EU, including all the rights and obligations that go along with membership.
After the extension has been signed off this week, Brussels will watch, arms folded from the sidelines as the next moves are decided in Westminster.After the extension has been signed off this week, Brussels will watch, arms folded from the sidelines as the next moves are decided in Westminster.
Read more from Katya here.Read more from Katya here.
MPs are due to vote on the prime minister's election call after 19:00 GMT. The SNP and Lib Dems have broken with the Labour position on Brexit to push for an election on 9 December.
Labour has repeatedly said it will not back an early general election until a no-deal Brexit is taken off the table.
The SNP also said it would block the government's election attempt. But it has broken with the Labour position and joined forces with the Liberal Democrats to push for an election on 9 December.
Their bill would tweak the 2011 Fixed-term Parliaments Act - the law which sets the time-frame for elections.Their bill would tweak the 2011 Fixed-term Parliaments Act - the law which sets the time-frame for elections.
If passed, it would enable an election to take place with only a majority of one, rather than two-thirds of MPs.If passed, it would enable an election to take place with only a majority of one, rather than two-thirds of MPs.
It would also set the election date in stone and rule out any chance of the PM altering the date after MPs had voted, which he could theoretically do under the current legislation.It would also set the election date in stone and rule out any chance of the PM altering the date after MPs had voted, which he could theoretically do under the current legislation.
The SNP's Westminster leader, Ian Blackford, said they would then fight an election "on the basis" of stopping Brexit.
He welcomed the extension from the EU, telling the BBC: "There is a responsibility on all of us to make sure we use that time to get out of the Brexit mess we are in and to get out of the impasse everybody is fed up of being in."
Lib Dem MP Chuka Umunna claimed the plan would also prevent the prime minister "ramming through" his Brexit bill, which the Lib Dems oppose, and changing the date of an election until after the UK had left the EU.Lib Dem MP Chuka Umunna claimed the plan would also prevent the prime minister "ramming through" his Brexit bill, which the Lib Dems oppose, and changing the date of an election until after the UK had left the EU.
His party leader, Jo Swinson, added: "We will keep fighting for a People's Vote, but unless Labour wholeheartedly back it then a general election is the only way we can use this extension to stop Brexit."His party leader, Jo Swinson, added: "We will keep fighting for a People's Vote, but unless Labour wholeheartedly back it then a general election is the only way we can use this extension to stop Brexit."
But Labour Party Chairman Ian Lavery accused the Lib Dems of "getting into bed with the no-deal Brexit Conservatives and forgetting their chums" in the People's Vote campaign.But Labour Party Chairman Ian Lavery accused the Lib Dems of "getting into bed with the no-deal Brexit Conservatives and forgetting their chums" in the People's Vote campaign.
The leader of The Independent Group for Change, former Conservative MP Anna Soubry, sent an email to her party's supporters accusing the SNP and Lib Dems of "turning their backs" on the People's Vote. The leader of The Independent Group for Change, former Conservative MP Anna Soubry, sent an email to her party's supporters accusing the SNP and Lib Dems of "turning their backs" on the People's Vote campaign.
"This cross-party campaign has always been clear that a People's Vote must come before any general election," she wrote.
"I am sorry to say that old style, selfish, tribal party politics is at play."
The Independent Group for Change has five MPs.The Independent Group for Change has five MPs.
Plaid Cymru, which has four MPs, said another referendum, rather than an election, was the "clearest way to end the Brexit chaos".Plaid Cymru, which has four MPs, said another referendum, rather than an election, was the "clearest way to end the Brexit chaos".