Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Brexmas election? PMQS DUEL
Odds shorten on UK going to polls before Christmas as EU considers extension
THE chances of a general election before Christmas seemed to be growing last night as Boris Johnson faced an anxious wait over the EU granting another Brexit extension.
In a series of phone calls, the PM told European Council President Donald Tusk and German Chancellor Angela Merkel there should be no delay.
The French are said to be pushing for an extension of just two weeks. But No10 insiders think Brussels will grant the three-month delay Mr Johnson was earlier forced by law to ask for.
Downing Street, which expects a decision tomorrow, reckons the EU will offer a “flextension” – meaning the UK could leave if and when a deal is passed by Parliament before the cut-off. MPS want a delay until January 31 to stop the UK crashing out without a deal on the current deadline of Halloween. Opposition parties signalled they would back an election this autumn if the EU grants an extension until next year. A No10 source insisted an election before Christmas was possible, despite officials saying the latest it could be held was December 12 – meaning it must be triggered by November 7.
Justice Secretary Robert Buckland said Parliament’s failure to break the deadlock means an election “seems to be the only way to break this impasse”. Jeremy Corbyn’s spokesman reiterated Labour’s position, saying: “We’ll support an election as soon as the risk of a no-deal crash-out is taken off the table.” He added: “What that means will depend on the exact terms of the EU offer.”
Labour fears that if the EU grants an extension to January 31 and Mr Corbyn’s party then backs an election, Downing Street could delay it until after the deadline – meaning Britain might leave without a deal in February.
A Lib Dem source said: “Our priority remains getting a People’s Vote, but we are not scared of a general election.”
Downing Street claimed yesterday it was “absolutely” possible to quit the EU as planned with a deal on Halloween. But the chances looked remote.
Mr Corbyn threw the PM a potential lifeline over the timetable of the Withdrawal Agreement Bill, offering to help schedule its journey – but not in time for the UK to leave a week today.
It is understood Labour thinks the process may take less than a month – potentially meaning Brexit before Christmas. Negotiations between the PM and Mr Corbyn aimed at thrashing out a new timetable collapsed without agreement yesterday.
A No10 source said: “I would not expect any more talks.” But the Labour leader’s spokesman said Mr Corbyn is “ready to work with the Government on finding a reasonable and sensible way of getting the business done on the Withdrawal Agreement Bill in a reasonable time”.
Mr Johnson was boosted on Tuesday night when his Withdrawal Agreement Bill cleared its first Commons hurdle. But he suffered a hammer blow minutes later when the legislation’s timetable was derailed as MPS demanded more time for scrutiny.
He immediately halted the bill, unleashing further Brexit turmoil.
Mr Johnson, who also faced Mr Corbyn at Prime Minister’s Questions yesterday, has been slammed for cancelling an appearance before the Commons Liaison Committee for the third time.
He sent a scribbled note last night explaining the no-show today.
Sarah Wollaston, who chairs the committee, said it was “appalling” the PM cancelled “rather than face scrutiny”.
Labour chairman Ian Lavery said: “Boris Johnson is a coward.”
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