Defending going for an election, a Lib Dem source said “we need to break the gridlock” as the numbers in Parliament now show there aren’t enough MPs backing a people’s vote.
The source also predicts another extension is unlikely from January as other EU leaders will join French President Emmanuel Macron.
They added: “We’ve run out of time. All the EU figures are clear that we’re not going to get another extension”.
But the election bid has faced stark criticism from the Labour Party, who branded the election bill as a “ridiculous stunt” and accused the parties of abandoning a chance to have a second referendum on Brexit.
