Labour to vote against snap general election unless Boris Johnson rules out no-deal Brexit

Sir Keir Starmer has confirmed Labour will vote down Boris Johnson's bid for a general election tonight after the prime minister's Brexit plans were derailed by a humiliating defeat at the hands of rebel MPs.

Tory MPs defied threats of deselection to back the motion to seize control of the parliamentary timetable on Wednesday, in order to table a bill to stop the UK crashing out of the EU on 31 October.

Mr Johnson announced he would table a motion for a general election later today, which requires the backing of more than two thirds of MPs.

But the bid could end in failure, as the shadow Brexit secretary told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "We are not going to be voting with [Boris] Johnson today."

Labour has been demanding a general election for months but senior figures are concerned the prime minister could name an election date after the Brexit deadline, forcing the UK to crash out of the EU without a deal during the campaign.

Jeremy Corbyn and Sir Keir were in talks with senior Commons officials on Tuesday, as the party tries to hammer out a way to guarantee the date of an election.

Sir Keir said: "Having got control from Boris Johnson last night, we are not going to hand it back to him in what is very obviously a trap.

"He says, 'Of course I will have a general election on 15 October, nothing to worry about,' but nobody in parliament trusts this man.

"This is the difference between him and Theresa May. People trusted Theresa May, they may have disagreed with her, but we have zero trust because I'm afraid he has been dishonest time and again."

Labour would "of course" like to fight a general election but the party will not "jump to Boris Johnson's tune" as he has destroyed MPs' trust by suspending parliament, Sir Keir said.

He said: "Once you've lost the ability to control parliament, you've lost control."

Mr Johnson's wafer-thin majority was wiped out yesterday when pro-EU MP Philip Lee dramatically crossed the floor of the House to sit with the Liberal Democrats as the prime minister made a statement to MPs.

His numbers dwindled further when Tory whips ruthlessly sacked 21 Conservative MPs for defying the government last night, including ex-chancellors Philip Hammond and Ken Clarke, and veteran MP Sir Nicholas Soames - the grandson of Winston Churchill.

As the parliamentary balance tipped in Labour's favour, Sir Keir suggested it "may well be" better to call a vote of confidence in the government than to demand an election.

John McDonnell, the shadow chancellor, hinted at similar thinking on Tuesday night, saying: "I think the fact Johnson has lost his majority plus losing votes begs the question whether the Tories can remain in government.

But in a sign that the party is keeping an election at the forefront of its thoughts, an email to members said: "This is it. Last night's victory was a vital step in preventing a disastrous no-deal Brexit.

"And once that is secured, we'll head towards a general election."

It comes ahead of another momentous day in Westminster, as rebel MPs prepare to take control of the order paper to table a backbench bill to prevent a no-deal Brexit on 31 October.

The bill will be rushed through its Commons stages today before going to the Lords tomorrow, where Brexiteer peers have tabled some 90 amendments to try to slow its passage.

If it succeeds, the prime minister said he will table a snap election motion later tonight.

He told MPs: "I don’t want an election but if MPs vote tomorrow to stop the negotiations and to compel another pointless delay of Brexit, potentially for years, then that will be the only way to resolve this.

"I can confirm that tonight we will are tabling a motion under the Fixed Term Parliament Act."