The prime minister will introduce a one-line bill proposing a nationwide poll on December 12 which would only require a simple majority to succeed, as opposed to the support of two-thirds of the House, as required by the Fixed-term Parliaments Act 2011. However, given he only commands the support of 287 Tory MPs, he will still need the backing of the Liberal Democrats and Scottish National Party (SNP) to succeed. The Government has abandoned attempts to get his Withdrawal and Implementation Bill (WAIB) through the Commons, for now at least, and BBC Political Editor Laura Kuenssberg suggested Mr Johnson’s refusal to have another go was “driving some Tories round the twist”.
Writing on the BBC’s website, she said: “One MP told me that a group of them made it clear to the PM in person on Monday night that they were deeply unhappy at what one of them described as him ‘being churlish, and taking his bat and ball home’, when he achieved what was said to be impossible by getting a deal in the first place, only to give up when the timetable for it was rejected last week.”
The Commons backed the government’s election motion by 299 to 70 on Monday – but with Labour abstaining along with the Lib Dems and the SNP, Mr Johnson was well short of the number needed.
However, there have been suggestions both parties may be minded to back a one-line bill – also known as a Notwithstanding Bill – today.
Professor Vernon Bogdanor, who suggested the idea last week, told Express.co.uk yesterday: “The Lib Dems presumably feel that they are on the up as the leading Remain party.
“They gained 700 new councillors in the council elections earlier this year, they beat Labour and the Tories in the European Parliament elections in May – the first time they have beaten both parties since before 1914, they won the Brecon by-election in August, and they have had defections from the two major parties.”
Prof Bogdanor has also suggested the SNP favour an early election believing it could score big wins north of the border, and also in advance of the trial of former leader Alex Salmond early next year, which could overshadow their campaign.
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Laura Kuenssberg said Tory MPs are getting frustrated with Mr Johnson (Image: Reuters/BBC)
8.01am update: Panicked Labour MP admits party vetoed election bid amid fears they would lose
A Labour MP has admitted the party fears a Conservative victory in a general election.
The admission came during BBC Newsnight, where Labour MP Owen Smith was quizzed on the party’s position on another vote general election vote on Tuesday. Mr Smith was more than willing to spell out the party’s position, that it would not vote for a general election, and cited Labour’s lack of popularity as the reason.
Emily Maitlis asked Mr Smith: “Labour is going to vote against the election again tomorrow, is this right?”
Owen Smith: “Well as you know Emily I’ve had lots of disagreements with Jeremy Corbyn in recent years, but he’s right about this.”
Mr Smith agreed he wanted a Labour Govrenment – but added: “However, this would be the first time I think in history when a party had come from where we currently are, 15 or 16 points in some of the polls.”
Owen Smith cited Labour’s poor showing in the polls (Image: BBC)
7.56am update: Boris will only win election against Corbyn if he does ONE thing, claims Brexiteer Tebbit
Boris Johnson will only win the next general election if he focuses on a powerful vision for Britain after the country has cut ties with the European Union, Brexiteer Lord Norman Tebbit, has claimed.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson was dealt a huge blow on Monday evening after MPs failed to support his demand for a general election.
Mr Johnson has said he will lay a one-clause motion to amend the Fixed-Term Parliaments Act (FTPA) to call for a general election with the specific date of December 12, after his unsuccessful push to secure a national poll.
However, the Prime Minister has been warned about making the next general election all about Britain’s departure from the European Union, if he manages to secure it.
7.49am update: House prices pick up after eight-month low
Growth in British house prices, which has slowed almost to a halt ahead of Brexit, picked up a bit of speed in October after touching an eight-month low in September, according to a survey from mortgage lender Nationwide.
House prices rose by 0.4 percent on the year, Nationwide said on Tuesday.
A Reuters poll of economists had pointed to another rise of 0.2 percent.
In October alone, house prices rose by 0.2 percent, also slightly stronger than forecasts of no change.
Boris Johnson speaks in the Commons yesterday (Image: GETTY)
7.48am update: Johnson set for fresh election push
Boris Johnson will today make a fourth attempt to force an early general election after Parliament rejected his latest attempt yesterday amid reports Tory MPs are “deeply happy” at his decision to abandon attempts to get his Brexit Bill ratified by Parliament.
The prime minister will introduce a one-line bill proposing a nationwide poll on December 12 which would only require a simple majority to succeed, as opposed to the support of two-thirds of the House, as required by the Fixed-term Parliaments Act 2011.
However, given he only commands the support of 287 Tory MPs, he will still need the backing of the Liberal Democrats and Scottish National Party (SNP) to succeed.
Writing on the BBC’s website, she said: “One MP told me that a group of them made it clear to the PM in person on Monday night that they were deeply unhappy at what one of them described as him “being churlish, and taking his bat and ball home”, when he achieved what was said to be impossible by getting a deal in the first place, only to give up when the timetable for it was rejected last week.”
