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Brexit: Boris Johnson to make fresh general election bid Brexit: Boris Johnson to make fresh general election bid
(32 minutes later)
Boris Johnson will try for a fourth time to secure an early general election, after MPs rejected his plan.Boris Johnson will try for a fourth time to secure an early general election, after MPs rejected his plan.
The prime minister will publish a bill proposing a poll on 12 December that would only need a simple majority to succeed - not two-thirds as required in previous attempts.The prime minister will publish a bill proposing a poll on 12 December that would only need a simple majority to succeed - not two-thirds as required in previous attempts.
However, he would still need votes from opposition parties for it to pass.However, he would still need votes from opposition parties for it to pass.
Mr Johnson said Parliament was "dysfunctional", but Labour said the prime minister could not be trusted.Mr Johnson said Parliament was "dysfunctional", but Labour said the prime minister could not be trusted.
The push for an election comes as the government said it would abandon its attempt to pass its Brexit bill, for the time being.The push for an election comes as the government said it would abandon its attempt to pass its Brexit bill, for the time being.
The Commons backed the government's election motion by 299 to 70 on Monday - well short of the two-thirds of all MPs whose support are needed under the Fixed-term Parliaments Act.The Commons backed the government's election motion by 299 to 70 on Monday - well short of the two-thirds of all MPs whose support are needed under the Fixed-term Parliaments Act.
All Conservative MPs backed the motion, but the vast majority of Labour MPs abstained, along with the SNP and DUP. All but one MP from the Liberal Democrats voted against it.All Conservative MPs backed the motion, but the vast majority of Labour MPs abstained, along with the SNP and DUP. All but one MP from the Liberal Democrats voted against it.
The vote came after Mr Johnson officially accepted the EU's offer of an extension to the Brexit deadline to 31 January.The vote came after Mr Johnson officially accepted the EU's offer of an extension to the Brexit deadline to 31 January.
This means the UK will not now leave the EU on Thursday - 31 October - a promise at the heart of Mr Johnson's campaign to become prime minister.This means the UK will not now leave the EU on Thursday - 31 October - a promise at the heart of Mr Johnson's campaign to become prime minister.
In a letter to EU officials, Mr Johnson said the further delay - which he insists was forced upon him by Parliament - was "unwanted".In a letter to EU officials, Mr Johnson said the further delay - which he insists was forced upon him by Parliament - was "unwanted".
Mr Johnson said he would persist with his efforts to get an early election, telling MPs that "one way or another" the current deadlock had to be broken.Mr Johnson said he would persist with his efforts to get an early election, telling MPs that "one way or another" the current deadlock had to be broken.
MPs will begin to debate and vote on a bill for a 12 December election - at least its second reading - on Tuesday lunchtime.MPs will begin to debate and vote on a bill for a 12 December election - at least its second reading - on Tuesday lunchtime.
Jacob Rees-Mogg, Leader of the House of Commons, said the government wanted MPs to debate all stages of the bill in a day.Jacob Rees-Mogg, Leader of the House of Commons, said the government wanted MPs to debate all stages of the bill in a day.
Usually a bill is debated over the course of several days, but Mr Rees-Mogg said the legislation would be "extremely short, simple, and limited in scope".Usually a bill is debated over the course of several days, but Mr Rees-Mogg said the legislation would be "extremely short, simple, and limited in scope".
The bill has to pass through the House of Commons and the House of Lords before it can come into effect.The bill has to pass through the House of Commons and the House of Lords before it can come into effect.
Mr Rees-Mogg added that the government would not bring its Withdrawal Agreement Bill back to MPs for scrutiny, as would be required for Mr Johnson's Brexit deal to become law.Mr Rees-Mogg added that the government would not bring its Withdrawal Agreement Bill back to MPs for scrutiny, as would be required for Mr Johnson's Brexit deal to become law.
It seems the prime minister is closer than he has ever been to pushing the button for an election and succeeding at his next attempt. The date is a sticking point as things stand, but it is not impossible that will become unglued by the time MPs vote tonight.
First off, the powerful cross-party coalition of MPs who have worked together to oppose the idea of ever leaving the EU without a deal now have a delay in place until 31 January. Conversations are going on through the "usual channels" - the party whips - and they may all find a way of climbing down to agree.
That means not just that Mr Johnson has failed to keep his Halloween promise, but also that there is a window of three months when there is time for something decisive to happen without us leaving the EU with no deal. But for both the government and the smaller opposition parties, they have to be willing to hold hands and jump into this together.
Don't get your hopes up, that doesn't mean that anything decisive is in the bag, whichever or whoever's side you are on. The SNP and the Liberal Democrats are nervous as being seen as the PM's little helpers.
But the deadline by when Parliament has to move has stretched out again, so there's more time to play with. And the chances of Labour coming to the wicket and backing it are very small.
Parliament is closer than it's ever been to an election.
But it doesn't mean that it happens tonight and it is still possible after those MPs have walked through the voting lobbies, we still have no Brexit, no budget and no traditionally functioning government.
Read more from Laura here.Read more from Laura here.
Why is the PM trying again?Why is the PM trying again?
The legislation the PM will propose on Tuesday requires a lower threshold for approval than the motion he tabled on Monday.The legislation the PM will propose on Tuesday requires a lower threshold for approval than the motion he tabled on Monday.
Mr Johnson originally tried to hold an election via the Fixed-term Parliament Act route, which is a simpler process than passing a bill as it cannot be amended by MPs.Mr Johnson originally tried to hold an election via the Fixed-term Parliament Act route, which is a simpler process than passing a bill as it cannot be amended by MPs.
But with the need for two-thirds of all MPs to back it - rather than just a majority of one - his attempts have failed.But with the need for two-thirds of all MPs to back it - rather than just a majority of one - his attempts have failed.
Crucially for his new plan, the Lib Dems and the SNP have indicated they might be prepared to support it.Crucially for his new plan, the Lib Dems and the SNP have indicated they might be prepared to support it.
The DUP, which opposes Mr Johnson's Brexit agreement and which abstained in Monday's vote, could also potentially come on board - meaning the simple majority of one could be achieved.
However, there are arguments over the date of an election.However, there are arguments over the date of an election.
The DUP, which opposes Mr Johnson's Brexit agreement and which abstained in Monday's vote, could also potentially come on board - meaning the simple majority of one could be achieved.
But the government may also need support from those MPs who had the Conservative whip removed for voting against a no-deal Brexit.
One of those MPs, former Chancellor Philip Hammond, said the idea of using "precious time" to hold an election, rather than passing the government's Brexit bill, "frankly appals me".
He added: "I think the government is trying to create a narrative that Parliament is blocking Brexit and therefore we need an election. But, that is simply untrue."
Why does the date matter so much?Why does the date matter so much?
Parliament has to be dissolved a minimum of 25 working days before the date of an election to allow sufficient preparations to take place.Parliament has to be dissolved a minimum of 25 working days before the date of an election to allow sufficient preparations to take place.
The Lib Dems and the SNP want an election on 9 December because they say that will prevent any chance of Mr Johnson's Brexit deal being approved before Parliament is dissolved.The Lib Dems and the SNP want an election on 9 December because they say that will prevent any chance of Mr Johnson's Brexit deal being approved before Parliament is dissolved.
Both parties want to fight the election on a platform of stopping Brexit entirely.Both parties want to fight the election on a platform of stopping Brexit entirely.
The government hopes to persuade the Lib Dems and the SNP to agree to the 12 December date by pledging not to bring back its Brexit deal bill before Parliament is dissolved. But the government hopes to persuade the Lib Dems and the SNP to agree to the 12 December date by pledging not to bring back its Brexit deal bill before Parliament is dissolved.
But Lib Dem leader Jo Swinson told MPs she did not trust Mr Johnson's assurances. Home Office Minister Brandon Lewis said it was "the right date for a general election", arguing a poll any earlier would not allow time for the government to pass "key pieces of legislation" - including around budget issues in Northern Ireland.
However, Lib Dem leader Jo Swinson told MPs she did not trust Mr Johnson's assurances.
The government maintains it would be very difficult for an election bill to pass through both the Commons and the Lords, and receive Royal Assent by 00:01 on Friday in order to meet a 9 December deadline.The government maintains it would be very difficult for an election bill to pass through both the Commons and the Lords, and receive Royal Assent by 00:01 on Friday in order to meet a 9 December deadline.
What is Labour's position?What is Labour's position?
Mr Johnson told MPs that voters would be "absolutely bewildered" by Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn's apparent resistance to an election, after most opposition MPs abstained from Monday's vote. Most Labour MPs abstained from Monday's vote.
Mr Corbyn said he would consider the legislation but would only support an election once a no-deal Brexit had been taken off the table. The party's leader, Jeremy Corbyn, said he would consider the legislation, but would only support an election once a no-deal Brexit had been taken off the table.
He also called for assurances that students would not be "disenfranchised" if the vote was held outside term time.He also called for assurances that students would not be "disenfranchised" if the vote was held outside term time.
Many Labour MPs remain adamantly opposed to an election in any circumstances, amid concerns about the party's poor poll ratings and confusion over the party's policy of negotiating a new Brexit deal and holding another referendum. But speaking to BBC Radio 4's Today programme, shadow international trade secretary Barry Gardiner said a 9 December election "certainly would" appeal more than a 12 December vote.
The BBC's Laura Kuenssberg said there was a split in the party over whether to hold an election.
She said some Labour MPs are thinking "bring it on, let's have an election", but others are worried about their standings in the polls and confusion over their Brexit policy - to negotiate a new deal then hold another referendum.
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