Boris Johnson news - live: Bid for pre-Christmas election gathers support, as PM holds surprise Brexit meeting with Corbyn
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Your support makes all the difference.Boris Johnson has been forced to “pause” his Brexit deal legislation after MPs rejected his plans to fast-track his withdrawal agreement bill through the Commons before his “do or die” 31 October deadline.
After surprise talks between Mr Johnson and Jeremy Corbyn on Wednesday, a Labour spokesperson said Mr Corbyn had “restated that Labour will support a general election when the threat of a no deal crash out is off the table.”
SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon said she would be “very happy” to have a pre-Christmas election. Justice secretary Robert Buckland said an election “seems to me to be the only way to break this impasse”, while his Labour shadow Richard Burgon, asked if the party would help trigger an election once the threat of a Halloween no deal was removed, replied: “Yes.”
Michel Barnier ask for ‘clarity’ from UK
EU chief negotiator Michel Barnier has called for clarity from the government over the Brexit extension request (good luck with that Michel…)
Speaking in Brussels, he told Sky News: “First of all, we need some clarification from the UK side: what will be the next step for them.
“As far as the request asked last week from the British government for extension, it’s for the EU27 to decide and there’s a current consultation now launched by President Tusk.”
PM accused of misleading parliament after saying there would be 'no checks' between NI and GB
Boris Johnson has been accused of misleading parliament after he claimed there would be "no checks" between Northern Ireland and Britain after Brexit.
The prime minister directly contradicted the Brexit Secretary, Steve Barclay, who admitted on Tuesday that Northern Ireland businesses will be forced to fill out export declaration forms when sending goods to Britain under the terms of the new Brexit deal.
His claim was also at odds with Julian Smith, the Northern Ireland secretary, moments earlier, who told a Commons committee there would be checks but they would be kept at a "minimal" level.
"With a no-deal Brexit now unlikely, Jeremy Corbyn is running out of excuses – we’re heading for an election" - Andrew Grice
“Get Brexit done” or “real change”. I’m told this would be the choice that the Conservative and Labour parties respectively offer the country if there is a pre-Christmas general election. The slogans are decided and preparations are being stepped up.
That “get Brexit done” is a far more powerful pitch than “real change” explains why Boris Johnson is keen on a snap election after his Brexit strategy was derailed by last night’s Commons decision to reject his rushed timetable for passing the EU (Withdrawal) Bill.
Irish deputy PM says Brexit extension likely to be flexible
Ireland's deputy prime minister Simon Coveney has said a Brexit extension, if granted, is likely to be a flexible one that would allow the UK to leave the EU prior to the end of January.
Mr Coveney said the Irish government would be supportive of an extension but he cautioned that he was not speaking on behalf of the other EU states and said it was a case of "wait and see" if any of them raised "issues" with the move.
Addressing a gathering of business leaders in Belfast, he said: "From the Irish government's perspective we are supportive of facilitating an extension.
"I think that extension will be a flexible one that will allow the United Kingdom to leave the EU, if they can get a deal done, well in advance of the end of that extension period, which looks like it might be the end of January."
Patel: surge in recorded hate crime 'a good thing' because it means police are doing their job
Priti Patel has described a surge in recorded hate crime as “a good thing”, because it means the police are recording more offences.
Giving evidence to MPs, the home secretary was asked “what is being done” to tackle a record high in offences – revealed last week – including a big leap in attacks on transgender people.
Ms Patel replied: “When we look at the numbers, it’s clear there’s more work that’s taking place in terms of police recording hate crime.”
Half of the public support immediate general election, new YouGov poll says
Boris Johnson spoke to German chancellor Angela Merkel for around 10 minutes on Wednesday afternoon, Number 10 said.
The prime minister's official spokesman said: "(Mr Johnson) made the same point which he made to Donald Tusk, which is that his long-held view is that we shouldn't delay and that we should leave the EU on 31st October."
Sturgeon backs election 'before Christmas'
Nicola Sturgeon has backed a general election “before Christmas”, suggesting the SNP will vote for it if Boris Johnson tries to take the plunge.
The Scottish first minister said the UK should go to the polls as soon as an extension to Article 50 is “nailed down” – piling pressure on Labour to do the same.
In the Commons, Boris Johnson welcomed the shift, pointing to Jeremy Corbyn and saying: “What an exciting development – perhaps he can pass some of his courage down the line!”
Budget could be postponed if MPs fail to pass Brexit deal
November’s budget could be postponed if the House of Commons fails to ratify Boris Johnson’s Brexit deal within the next week.
Chancellor Sajid Javid wants to use the statement pencilled in for 6 November to set out ambitious plans for infrastructure spending to keep the economy going in the aftermath of Brexit.
But Downing Street said his plans may have to be put on hold if the Brexit process is extended, or if the UK crashes out without a deal on 31 October.
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