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.
Speaking to the BBC’s Andrew Marr, he said the government – which wants a poll three days later on 12 December – had put forward its plan first.
But Lib Dem leader Jo Swinson said their plan removes the threat of no-deal through a Brexit extension to 31 January.
She said the bill would enshrine their proposed election date into law.
