Prime Minister to seek election again next week
MPs on both sides of the house are readying themselves for a second attemp by the Prime Minister to trigger election, after an unsuccessful last night.
Boris Johnson failed to get a two-thirds majority as required under the Fixed Term Parliaments Act, after Labour whipped its MPs to abstain.
Leader of the House Jacob Rees-Mogg confirmed this afternoon that the government would bring another motion relating to an early General Election. It has been scheduled to return on Monday.
Labour MP Valerie Vaz asked Rees-Mogg to clarify whether it would be under the same terms, but he dodged the question.
It is thought by MPs on both sides of the house that the new plan will require a simple majority. If the SNP vote to go to the polls, as they have so far indicated, that means Johnson may get his pre-Halloween General Election.
Despite professing to be “ready” to go to the polls, Labour MPs are expecting to abstain until 31 October, insisting they do not trust the Prime Minister to shift the timetable and pave the way for a no-deal Brexit by default.
Johnson, who lost his working majority on Wednesday when Phillip Lee crossed the floor to join the Liberal Democrats, has weakened it further by sacking 21 rebels who voted against the government on the recent anti-Brexit Benn bill.
He was hit again this morning by the departure of his younger brother Jo, MP for Orpington.
Tory MPs spoken to by Morning Wire said they were already in full election mode, with one calling in a five-figure sum from donors to begin spending on a campaign.
There is a concern that, even with the so-called “Boris bounce”, an election will only serve to return another hung parliament.
Following Lee’s switch to the Lib Dems, former Labour MP Luciana Berger confirmed she was joining the party, which has already become a home to the likes of Chuka Umunna and Sarah Wollaston.
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