Boris Johnson news - live: Election to be held on 12 December after plans to give vote to EU citizens and 16-year-olds dismissed
Follow all the latest developments as MPs clear way for pre-Christmas polls
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Your support makes all the difference.Boris Johnson is set to secure a 12 December general election after MPs passed a bill to trigger a pre-Christmas poll.
The prime minister had earlier avoided a potential obstacle when the House of Commons deputy speaker, Lindsay Hoyle, refused to allow votes on Labour amendments calling for the vote to be given to EU citizens and 16- and 17-year olds.
The government had said it would pull the bill if either of the amendments passed.
MPs also voted by 315 to 295 to reject an amendment tabled by Jeremy Corbyn to change the date of the election to 9 December, three days earlier than ministers wanted.
MPs beg Bercow to stay on longer
Speaker John Bercow has been taking points of order ahead of the debate on the election bill in the Commons.
Some MPs have urged Bercow to stay on as Speaker past the scheduled end of this session on Thursday, when he is set to stand down.
Bercow said he had no ambition to stay any longer, but could stay, if asked, until early next week if the dissolution of parliament happens then.
Speaker John Bercow addresses House of Commons
Mark Francois bids farewell to ‘midget’ Speaker
The Tory MP Mark Francois bid farewell to Speaker John Bercow by making a jibe about his height.
Calling on Francois to speak, Bercow said: “We stood against each other in Conservative student politics in 1986. I was the candidate of the right and he the candidate of the left. But some things change over the years.”
Responding, Francois said: “Mr Speaker, you won. And I can I say although we have not always agreed on everything, in the 18 years that I have been in this House, can I say most earnestly, from one midget to another, I wish you a long and happy retirement.”
MPs voting on Creasy amendment to make further amendments on election bill possible
Commons Leader Jacob Rees-Mogg said the bill for an early general election would mean parliament would dissolve on November 6.
He told MPs: “This bill will need royal assent by November 5 for the House to dissolve just after midnight on November 6.
Rees-Mogg said this would allow for the 25 days required ahead of a general election on December 12.
But the Speaker has selected an amendment from Labour MP Stella Creasy to make it easier for MPs to put forward further amendments on the government’s bill for an early general election.
Referring to the Creasy amendment, Rees-Mogg said this was not necessary for “a straightforward piece of legislation”.
BREAKING: MPs vote in favour of Creasy amendment
MPs have backed, by 312 votes to 295, an amendment from Labour MP Stella Creasy to make it easier for MPs to put forward further amendments on the government’s bill for an early general election.
Boris Johnson says MPs want to push Brexit back until ‘the 12th of never’
The prime minister says the government has “tried to be reasonable”. He accuses opposition MPs of wanting to “spin [Brexit] out forever, till the 12th of never”.
Government threatens to pull its December election bill
The government is threatening to pull the early election bill, according to Robert Peston – if Labour insists on pushing an amendment to give EU citizens the vote.
Earlier the PM’s spokesman said: “Changing the election franchise days before an election could cause administrative chaos.
“There would be between 2.4 million to three million people added to the electoral roll at the last minute with no idea on the cost or logistical burden this could cause.”
Corbyn says Labour will attempt to expand the electorate
Jeremy Corbyn has confirmed that Labour will bring forward amendments to election bill on expanding vote to 16 and 17 year-olds, and to EU citizens.
Labour MP Stephen Doughty has tweeted a picture of his proposed amendment, which would lower the voting age to 16 for the forthcoming election.
‘How many elections do we need?’ Voters in Coventry share their views
The Press Association has been out looking for the new Brenda from Bristol – the woman who famously moaned “not another one!” when the 2017 election was announced.
Would-be voters have been giving their reaction to a possible pre-Christmas general election.
On the streets of Coventry, people greeted the possibility of another vote with a mix of exasperation and scepticism as the possibility.
Natalie Seaman, who is from the city, said: “I suppose (it is) a bit annoying, but I want to see the Tories out so I am quite happy to have the opportunity to go and vote and try and get Boris Johnson and the Conservatives out. It’s not going to ruin my Christmas.”
A man who gave his first name as Thomas said: “It’s messed up because there's too much corruption going on in this government at the moment.”
He added: “How many elections are we going to have in this country? How many do we need? This parliament have to sort out their problems between them.”
Adam Jones, describing Brexit as a “good thing”, said: "I'm not really that bothered (about an election). If Brexit has already been decided, then what is the general election for? Isn't that what we voted for?"
One woman replied simply “it’s all a mess”, while another echoed the sentiments of Brenda from Bristol, saying “Another one?”
Another despairing male voter said: “They’re all idiots, I don’t like any of them.”
Downing Street has vowed to pull the early election bill if MPs pass an amendment to extend the franchise to 16- and 17-year olds, a Downing Street spokesman has said.
Asked if ministers would scrap the plan for a December election if the amendment passes, the spokesman said:
"Yes, in short.
"Nothing would sum up how broken this parliament is if, after them all standing up there and saying they want a general election, they vote for an amendment that is deliberately designed to prevent the delivery of a general election before 2020.
"If you amend the votes by changing the franchise you are voting for a further delay.
"You cannot honestly argue you are supporting an election on 12 December and also vote for a change in the franchise because it's quite clear that a vote to change the franchise would create a six month delay."
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