Boris Johnson news - live: PM tries different route to get December general election after MPs vote against initial bid

Vote on early general election around 7pm

Downing Street on US threats to drop British-born jihadis in UK

Responding to US President Donald Trump’s suggestion that he could drop European-national jihadis captured in Syria on the borders of their home nations, including the UK, prime minister Boris Johnson’s official spokesman said: “Our position on foreign fighters is unchanged.

“Our priority is to ensure the safety and security of the UK and its citizens. We will not allow anything to jeopardise this.

“The UK will continue to work closely with international partners in addressing the issues associated with foreign terrorist fighters and in pursuit of justice for those who have participated in terrorism overseas.”

The spokesman confirmed it continues to be the UK’s policy to seek justice for those involved “in the region where the crimes took place”.

“There have been successful prosecutions,” he said. “I don’t think we can deny this is a complex matter.”

No 10 planning to ‘hijack’ Lib Dem-SNP one-line bill for election

As we suggested earlier, the government is planning to essentially nick the Lib Dem-SNP proposal to bypass the Fixed Term Parliaments Act (FTPA) by drawing up their own one-line bill for an election if their bid to get an election via the FTPA fails this evening.

The only thing that remains unclear is the date of a potential government one-line bill. Would they stick with 12 December, or possibly change it to 10 December in an effort to compromise with the Lib Dems and the SNP?

Almost two million people apply to register to vote in two months

Nearly two million people have applied to register to vote in the past eight weeks, according to government figures.

This is almost double the number for the previous eight weeks.

Ever since a snap general election was first proposed by Boris Johnson in early September, the number of applications has averaged around a quarter of a million every week.

It what could be good news for Labour and other opposition parties, more than half (58 per cent) were from people aged 34 and under, while just 7 per cent came from those aged 65 and over.

If a snap general election was to take place on 12 December, the deadline for applying to register to vote is likely to be 25 November. If polling day is 9 December (as the Lib Dems and SNP are now pushing for), the deadline would be 20 November.

Full details on how to register are at gov.uk/register-to-vote.

‘Do or die … no ifs no buts’: a history of Boris Johnson’s Halloween pledges

Boris Johnson has repeatedly insisted Britain would leave the EU on 31 October. Now that Brussels has agreed to delay Brexit until 31 January, here’s a look back on some of the times he made the vow:

- June 25: Mr Johnson first pledged to deliver Brexit on October 31 “do or die” during a TalkRadio interview amid the Tory leadership campaign. He said the UK would be leaving the EU on the Halloween deadline “do or die, come what may”.

- July 25: In his first speech as PM outside 10 Downing Street, Johnson said: “We are going to fulfil the repeated promises of Parliament to the people and come out of the EU on October 31, no ifs or buts.”

- September 2: Speaking in Downing Street, Johnson said: “There are no circumstances in which I will ask Brussels to delay. We are leaving on 31 October, no ifs or buts.”

- September 3: Addressing the House of Commons, the PM said: “I am confident of getting a deal, we will leave on 31 October in all circumstances. There will be no further pointless delay.”

- September 5: On seeking to delay Brexit beyond October 31, Johnson said in Yorkshire: “I’d rather be dead in a ditch.”

- September 6: Referring to a move by MPs, the PM said: “They just passed a law that would force me to beg Brussels for an extension to the Brexit deadline. This is something I will never do.”

- September 16: Mr Johnson told the BBC: “We’re going to come out on October 31 and it’s vital that people understand that the UK will not extend. We won’t go on remaining in the EU beyond October.”

- October 19: Addressing MPs after they rebelled against his Brexit stance, he said: “I will not negotiate a delay with the EU and neither does the law compel me to do so.”

- October 19: Later that evening, Johnson complied with the so-called Benn Act and sent European Council president Donald Tusk an unsigned copy of the legislation requesting a three-month Brexit delay.

Lib Dems will support government bill to bypass Fixed Term Parliaments Act

A Lib Dem source has told our correspondent Benjamin Kentish that they would get behind the government’s own attempt to bypass the Fixed Term Parliaments Act and put forward a one-line bill for a December election (requiring only a simple majority to pass).

But the party wants guarantees that a no-deal Brexit is off the table, the withdrawal agreement bill is kept on hold and the election date is firmly fixed.

People’s Vote staff walk out over ‘boardroom coup’

Our political editor has more on the row at the People’s Vote campaign for a second Brexit referendum.

Staff have staged a walkout after an attempt to sack two of its most senior figures in what they branded a “boardroom coup”.

Director James McGrory and head of communications Tom Baldwin were told to leave in an email to all staff on Sunday evening, which named former Labour head of campaigns Patrick Heneghan as new acting chief executive.

Lib Dems ready to switch to back government’s one-line bill for election

Our political editor has more on Downing Street’s plan to table legislation to force a pre-Christmas general election even if its proposal for a 12 December poll is defeated this evening.

The proposed bill will be “almost identical” to a separate Lib-Dem-SNP motion drawn up with the aim of securing a 9 December vote.

Both proposals are set to be tabled in the Commons on Tuesday. But Lib Dems have signalled that they will switch to back the government’s provided the election date is enshrined in law and there is a commitment not to seek to ratify Johnson’s Brexit deal before the election and not to allow no-deal Brexit before the end of January.

All the details here.

Labour MP facing six-month suspension after offering to buy cocaine for male prostitutes

The House of Commons’ standards watchdog has recommended a six-month suspension for Labour MP Keith Vaz after finding that he significantly damaged parliament’s reputation by offering to buy cocaine for two male prostitutes.

Labour fury at 'sell-out' Lib Dem offer to back government

Senior Labour figures have condemned Lib Dem leader Jo Swinson as she offers to help the prime minister secure a December poll.

While shadow chancellor John McDonnell has accused Swinson of “selling out” the campaign for another referendum, while Labour chairman Ian Lavery tweeted: “Moral of the story: never trust a Tory and for heaven’s sake never trust the Lib Dems.”

More details here.