Boris Johnson news – live: PM to call October general election if rebel MPs vote to block no-deal
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Your support makes all the difference.Government officials revealed Boris Johnson plans to call a 14 October general election if he loses a crunch no-deal Brexit vote in the Commons on Tuesday.
The sources said the prime minister was confident that the election motion would receive the two-thirds majority required to trigger an early poll under the Fixed Term Parliaments Act.
Ministers will table the motion by the end of Tuesday, but it will be moved to a vote on Wednesday only if MPs vote tomorrow to take control of Commons business in order to pass a bill to block a no-deal Brexit on 31 October.
In an unexpected statement outside Number 10 on Monday, Mr Johnson insisted there were “no circumstances” in which he would delay Brexit beyond the current deadline.
The prime minister warned that MPs would “chop the legs out” from the UK position if they backed a Brexit extension as he addressed the nation this evening.
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Journalists outside Number 10 are reporting a lectern is expected to be brought out for a statement at about 6pm.
Details of a Bill which aims to prevent the UK from leaving the EU without an agreement have been revealed.
The European Union (Withdrawal) (no 6) Bill will be presented to parliament by Labour former minister Hilary Benn.
Mr Benn said: “The purpose of the Bill is to ensure that the UK does not leave the European Union on the 31 October without an agreement, unless parliaments consents.”
Prime minister Boris Johnson is outside Number 10 addressing the nation.
Mr Johnson says "MPs should vote with the government against Corbyn's pointless delay".
He insists we are "leaving the EU on 31 October no ifs or buts" and "we will not accept any attempt to go back on our promises".
The prime minister warned that MPs would "chop the legs out" from the UK position if they backed a Brexit extension and stressed there were "no circumstances" in which he would personally seek a delay.
The prime minister insisted "I don't want an election" as he urged MPs not to back a Brexit delay.
Mr Johnson added: "To push forward this agenda on these and many other fronts then we need to get a Queen's speech in October, while leaving due time to debate Brexit and other matters."
The prime minister said he believes talks with Brussels have moved forward in recent weeks because the government "wants a deal, has a clear vision for the future relationship" and is clear that the UK will leave the EU on 31 October "come what may".
SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon has said the prime minister "will drive the UK off the no deal cliff on 31 October" and "must not get away with it".
She added it was "plainly obvious from that statement that Johnson has no plan to get a deal".
The pound sank to about one per cent against the US dollar today amid speculation that a snap election could be called.
Although the prime minister did not announce a return to the polls during his address to the nation, the pound has remained at historic lows, falling one cent against the dollar to 1.2069.
Even after Boris Johnson walked back through the door to 10 Downing Street following his speech, the pound did not recover and continued to trade at levels rarely seen since 1985.
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