SCOTLAND’S First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has pleaded with Jeremy Corbyn to back a snap General Election during a secret meeting.
The SNP leader and her deputy Ian Blackford held private talks with the Labour boss during a visit to Westminster on Wednesday.
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Her party’s 35 MPs are willing to vote for a December election but don’t want to be seen as helping the Tories without Labour’s cover, it is believed.
Power lies in the Labour leader’s hands over whether to accept or refuse Boris Johnson’s request for a December 12 poll, as the PM needs two thirds of all MPs to vote for it.
A Labour MP told The Sun: “Nicola Sturgeon and Ian Blackford saw Jeremy and asked for his support to jump with them.
“I don’t believe he gave them an answer.”
WAITING FOR A REFERENDUM INSTEAD
Senior Labour figures ducked out of saying what the party would do about the election vote on Monday as chaos reined internally.
Shadow Business Rebecca Long-Bailey refused five times to say whether Labour would back an immediate poll when pressed during interviews yesterday.
The shadow Cabinet is deeply split over it, with Labour’s elections coordinator Andrew Gwynne leading the calls for an election.
Friends of Mr Gwynne say he has told them: “An election is coming anyway so we might as well take the initiative”.
Shadow Brexit Secretary Keir Starmer leads the faction wanting to block a poll and try to force a second referendum instead.
‘I’VE GOT MY WINTER COAT READY’
Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell said he is “ready” for a general election, but insisted Labour’s top priority is to get more time to debate the PM’s Withdrawal Agreement Bill first.
Asked if he would back a December election, the shadow chancellor said: “It’s a bit cold. Anything can happen. I can’t predict it to be honest. But I’ve ordered a winter coat”.
He added: “My preference is to get an agreement in which we can consider the null properly.
“But I am always up for an election whenever it comes, and as I say I have got my winter coat ready.”
Labour MP Ben Bradshaw said he would refuse to back an election.
He told Sky News: “The very last thing I think the British public want is a Christmas or I think more accurately an advent election
“Boris Johnson has got his deal through Parliament at second reading, why isn’t he pursuing that?”
The SNP said last night it would not vote for a December 12 polling day as it wanted one sooner.
Mr Blackford called on opposition parties to “seize the moment”, adding: “There should be a vote of no confidence to end the days of this PM”.
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