Boris Johnson set to lose general election bid… but pact with Remain parties could still mean December vote

Boris Johnson is set to lose his bid for a general election but a pact with Remain parties could still seal him a December day at the polls.

The PM wants a vote on December 12 but will require a two-thirds Commons majority – 434 MPs – to get his way in Parliament on Monday.

The Labour Party is set to again refuse his bid, with Mr Johnson having had two earlier election moves defeated, making the move unlikely to secure the numbers.

However, the Lib Dems and SNP have offered the PM a lifeline which could offer a chance to secure an election on Tuesday – while needing 114 less votes today though.

Lib Dem leader Jo Swinson is behind a move to propose another route to an election (PA)

Lib Dem leader Jo Swinson and the SNP’s Westminster leader Ian Blackford have put forward a bill that would grant an election on December 9, as long as the European Union grant an extension until January 31.

The draft law is currently scheduled for Tuesday’s sitting and would require a simple majority of 320 MPs to support it in order to dissolve Parliament.

With the SNP and Lib Dems supporting the initiative, the Bill is likely to pass even without Labour backing.

SNP Westminster leader Ian Blackford MP speaks in the House of Commons (House of Commons/PA Wire)

Downing Street has indicated it could be willing to support the pro-Remain parties’ proposals in a possible compromise offer.

A Number 10 source said should the Government’s request for an election be lost, “we will look at all options to get Brexit done including ideas similar to that proposed by other opposition parties”.

If passed on Tuesday, the SNP-Lib Dem Bill is likely to achieve Royal Assent by Thursday.

Boris Johnson looks likely to lose his general election bid on Monday (PA)

Parliament would be dissolved by the end of the week for the first December poll in almost a century.

Its quick dissolution turnaround period would mean the Withdrawal Agreement Bill – the attempt to put Mr Johnson’s Brexit deal with the EU into law – would fail to pass before Halloween.

The EU appeared to pave the way for pro-Remain MPs to back Ms Swinson and Mr Blackford’s proposition and the Guardian reported Brussels had agreed to Britain’s request for an extension until January 31.

Jeremy Corbyn said he would only agree to a general election if the risk of no-deal was agreed “to my satisfaction” (Getty Images)

The report suggested the UK would be able to leave earlier, with Brexit going ahead on the first day of the month after a deal is ratified.

EU27 leaders are meeting today to discuss the extension, which the PM was forced to request under the Benn Act, and will potentially announce a decision.

The Labour Party looks unlikely to back the Remain party pledge, with The Telegraph reporting that leader Jeremy Corbyn still would see no deal “still there as a threat”.

While Labour’s shadow Scottish secretary has accused the SNP of “political grandstanding” over its joint push with the Liberal Democrats for a general election.