Politics

Brexit: Opposition parties to reject PM election move


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UK opposition parties have agreed not to back Boris Johnson’s demand for a general election before the EU summit in mid-October.

Labour, the Lib Dems, the SNP and Plaid Cymru say they will vote against the government or abstain in Monday’s vote on whether to hold a snap poll.

The SNP’s Ian Blackford said they wanted to make sure the UK did not “crash out” in a no-deal Brexit.

But the PM said the parties were making an “extraordinary political mistake”.

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn hosted talks involving opposition parties in London on Friday.

Afterwards, Mr Blackford told the BBC: “We have to keep the pressure on Boris Johnson.”

‘Perplexed’

Liz Saville Roberts, Plaid Cymru’s Westminster leader, said there was an “opportunity to bring down Boris” and “we should take that”.

And a Lib Dem spokeswoman said the group was clear that “we are not going to let Boris Johnson cut and run”.

“The Liberal Democrat position for a while now is that we won’t vote for a general election until we have an extension agreed with the EU. I think the others are coming round to that,” she said.

“As a group we will all vote against or abstain on Monday.”

Mr Johnson, who wants an early general election to take place on 15 October, said he was “perplexed” by the decision of opposition parties to “run away” from an election.

“All I see is Corbyn and the SNP clubbing together to try and lock us into the EU when it’s time to get this thing done,” he said.

“It’s the most sensational paradox – never in history has the opposition party been given the chance for election and has turned it down.”



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