Boris Johnson news – live: PM refuses to resign and says he’d rather be ‘dead in a ditch’ than seek Brexit delay

Shadow home secretary Diane Abbott has set out Labour’s current position on the general election. But it won’t stop the tweets from Labour MPs, almost all of whom, it seems, want to wait until after 31 October has come and gone.

Ken Clarke said Boris Johnson would have to ask for a Brexit delay if the backbench bill becomes law - unless he resigned.

“If parliament passes a law, the prime minister obeys the law. We’ve never had a prime minister, for centuries, who has said he is going to defy the law,” he told the BBC’s World At One.

“If Boris resigns, the House of Commons is going to find some way of actually putting together some arrangement that means we ask the EU for an extension."

He said “the government of national unity thing could arise” but also indicated he would have little problem with Jeremy Corbyn leading a caretaker administration.

“If the only thing he is allowed to do is to extend Article 50, I can't see that he can possibly do very much harm,” he said.

“There's no majority in the present House of Commons for anything in the Labour Party’s manifesto, he would have to win an election to do that and actually I think if we had an election I think we would have a hung parliament.”

Guy Verhofstadt, the European Parliament's Brexit co-ordinator, has expressed outrage at the PM's description of anti no-deal legislation as the "surrender bill".

He tweeted "Opposing a no deal is not 'surrender'.

"This is the language of Europe's dark past. It implies Britain's European allies and neighbours are enemies.

"I refuse to believe the majority of British people think this is the case.'

Boris Johnson has warned Donald Trump's administration the NHS is "not on the table" during any post-Brexit trade deal with the US.

The PM said he would not allow the health service to be carved up in trade talks with America as he met US vice president Mike Pence at Downing Street.

In a dig at Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn and his decision to block a general election, Mr Johnson added: "We have a gigantic chlorinated chicken of our own on the opposition benches."

He made the comments at No10 before being told to "shut up" by aides, with journalists whisked away to allow the pair to continue their bilateral talks.

Mr Pence said he had spoken to Mr Trump - who he called a "friend" of the PM's - on Thursday morning and that the US president had emphasised he was "ready, willing and able" to strike a free trade deal "immediately" after the UK had left the European Union.

But Mr Johnson took a strong approach with the US in a bid to allay fears that creeping privatisation and a slackening of food safety standards could form part of any agreement.

"Of course, we will do everything to increase free trade but the National Health Service is not on the table as far as our negotiations go," he said.

"And we're not too keen on that chlorinated chicken either."

The Tory leader, who is facing open revolt in Parliament and within his own party after failing to rule out a no-deal Brexit, said he wanted greater access for UK businesses to sell their goods into America.

Speaking in the White Room at Number 10, he said: "We will drive that free trade agreement and of course the US economy is a wonderful, massive opportunity for the UK.

"But it is still the case, did you know, that the people of the United States of America do not eat any British lamb or beef or haggis from Scotland.

"I think there are still barriers to trade in shower trays, would you believe it, from the UK and many other products where we think we could free up the US market.

"I know that you guys are pretty tough negotiators so we are going to work very hard to ensure that any free trade deal is one that works for all sides."

Mr Pence said: "The president often says the US has the biggest economy in the world and we truly believe that a free trade agreement between the United States and the UK could increase trade between our country by three or four times.

"We are anxious to do that and to stand with you and do everything in our power to strengthen what has been a historic and special relationship between the United States of America and the United Kingdom.

"It is embodied in the very warm and personal relationship that you have forged with President Trump, with myself and our administration."

A senior MEP has dismissed the Brexit talks as "window dressing" and accused the PM of exaggerating the progress made.

The motion for an early election which is expected to be considered on Monday will be under the Fixed-term Parliaments Act - so will again require a two-thirds majority to pass.

Downing Street would not be drawn on whether there would be further attempts to secure a general election if that failed, insisting things were being taken "one day at a time".

Boris Johnson is due to make a speech in West Yorkshire shortly. He is meant to take questions from reporters so expect him to be asked about the resignation of his brother Jo this morning.