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Brexit: General election fight 'will be tough', PM says Parties gear up for 12 December election battle
(32 minutes later)
Boris Johnson has said he is ready to fight a "tough" general election after MPs voted for a 12 December poll. Political parties are readying themselves for a general election campaign after MPs voted for a 12 December poll.
The legislation approved by MPs on Tuesday will later begin its passage through the House of Lords, where it is not expected to be opposed.The legislation approved by MPs on Tuesday will later begin its passage through the House of Lords, where it is not expected to be opposed.
Boris Johnson says he is ready to fight a "tough" general election.
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said the snap poll gave a "once-in-a-generation" opportunity to transform the country.Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said the snap poll gave a "once-in-a-generation" opportunity to transform the country.
Writing in the Daily Mirror, he outlined his party's "ambitious and radical campaign for real change".Writing in the Daily Mirror, he outlined his party's "ambitious and radical campaign for real change".
Mr Johnson hopes the election will give him a fresh mandate for his Brexit deal and break the current deadlock in Parliament, which has led to the UK's exit from the EU being further delayed to 31 January. But Mr Johnson hopes the election will give him a fresh mandate for his Brexit deal and break the current deadlock in Parliament.
The prime minister told Conservative Party colleagues at a meeting of backbench MPs that it was time for the country to "come together to get Brexit done". He told Conservative MPs it was time for the country to "come together to get Brexit done", but added: "It'll be a tough election and we are going to do the best we can."
"It'll be a tough election and we are going to do the best we can," he added. The poll comes after the EU extended the UK's exit deadline to 31 January 2020 - although Brexit can happen earlier if a deal is agreed by MPs.
The leaders of the UK's main two political parties will face off for Prime Minister's Questions at midday on Wednesday.The leaders of the UK's main two political parties will face off for Prime Minister's Questions at midday on Wednesday.
The Lib Dems and the SNP both see the election as a chance to ask voters whether Brexit should happen at all. What have the other parties said?
The pro-EU leader of the Lib Dems, Jo Swinson, has pitched herself as "the Liberal Democrat candidate for prime minister". The Liberal Democrats and the SNP both see the election as a chance to ask voters whether Brexit should happen at all.
"It is our best chance to elect a government to stop Brexit," she said. Lib Dem leader Jo Swinson said the poll was "our best chance to elect a government to stop Brexit".
For the SNP, Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said an election was an opportunity for Scotland to hold another independence referendum. Asked if she would form a coalition government with Labour or the Conservatives, she said: "I can't be clearer - neither Boris Johnson nor Jeremy Corbyn is fit to be prime minister."
For the SNP, Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said an election was an opportunity for the country to hold another independence referendum.
"A win for the SNP will be an unequivocal and irresistible demand for Scotland's right to choose our own future," she said."A win for the SNP will be an unequivocal and irresistible demand for Scotland's right to choose our own future," she said.
The Scottish Conservatives claimed voting for their party would keep Scotland in the UK. But the Scottish Conservatives claimed voting for their party would keep Scotland in the UK.
Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage welcomed the election, tweeting that the deadlock had been broken and "Brexit now has a chance to succeed". Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage welcomed the election, tweeting the deadlock had been "broken" and "Brexit now has a chance to succeed".
But co-leader of the Green Party Jonathan Bartley said the poll should be "a climate election" and focus on environmental issues.
When the House of Lords approves the election bill today then we will be on course for a 12 December winter election.When the House of Lords approves the election bill today then we will be on course for a 12 December winter election.
It is set to be one of the most unpredictable and epic elections of modern times.It is set to be one of the most unpredictable and epic elections of modern times.
Unpredictable, because Brexit totally overshadows it, but also because Brexit has totally reshaped our politics, too.Unpredictable, because Brexit totally overshadows it, but also because Brexit has totally reshaped our politics, too.
The main parties can no longer rely on the traditional class party residual loyalty. Instead, we have an emerging sort of identity culture politics which has changed the game entirely.The main parties can no longer rely on the traditional class party residual loyalty. Instead, we have an emerging sort of identity culture politics which has changed the game entirely.
And epic in the sense that the sort of promises the two main parties are making are gargantuan huge spending promises.And epic in the sense that the sort of promises the two main parties are making are gargantuan huge spending promises.
It is going to be a titanic contest.It is going to be a titanic contest.
How did we get here?How did we get here?
The government failed to get the two-thirds majority of votes required under the Fixed-term Parliaments Act when MPs voted on Monday on whether or not to hold an early general election. On Tuesday Mr Johnson's team tabled a one-page bill proposing a 12 December election to the Commons which needed the support of only a simple majority of MPs.
But on Tuesday Mr Johnson's team tabled a one-page bill to the Commons which needed the support of only a simple majority of MPs. Labour's amendment to change the date of the proposed election from 12 to 9 December was rejected and MPs voted to back the government's original bill by 438 votes to 20.
The Liberal Democrats and the SNP suggested 9 December as a suitable date for an election. They believed it would prevent Mr Johnson from pushing his Brexit plan through Parliament ahead of the poll.
Mr Corbyn confirmed Labour would back an election on 9 December, although some of his colleagues expressed misgivings over the timing of the election - believing only another referendum can settle the Brexit question for good.
However, Labour's amendment to change the date of the proposed election from 12 to 9 December was rejected and MPs voted to back the government's original bill by 438 votes to 20.
More than 100 Labour MPs did not take part or abstained in Tuesday's crucial vote, while 11 voted against an election. A total of 127 Labour MPs, including Mr Corbyn, supported the election.More than 100 Labour MPs did not take part or abstained in Tuesday's crucial vote, while 11 voted against an election. A total of 127 Labour MPs, including Mr Corbyn, supported the election.
The bill, approved by MPs, paves the way for the first December election since 1923.The bill, approved by MPs, paves the way for the first December election since 1923.