How the parties stand
CONSERVATIVE PARTY
Not all Tories are sold on the idea of a December election. Tories north of the Border are anxious about campaigning in Remain-voting Scotland before Brexit is delivered and where it will be dark by 3pm and accompanied by plummeting temperatures.
Senior backbenchers such as David Lidington and Damian Green, both former de facto deputies to Theresa May when she was PM, used interviews on Thursday to call for Mr Johnson to focus on delivering his Brexit deal instead.
LABOUR PARTY
Labour says it will agree to an election “as soon as the risk of a no-deal crash out is taken off the table”.
The EU are likely to announce its decision on an extension on Friday.
Shadow chancellor John Mcdonnell told reporters yesterday that Labour - with its 245 MPS - was ready for an election “whenever it comes” and added that he had his “winter coat ready”.
SNP
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said on Wednesday that her party would back a general election once a Brexit extension was “nailed down”.
But the SNP’S Westminster leader Ian Blackford insisted his party would not “dance to Boris Johnson’s tune” on the timing, and called the plan for a December vote “barking mad”.
“People are not going to thank you for asking them to come out and vote in a general election when we’re in the middle of winter,” he said.
LIBERAL DEMOCRATS
The pro-eu party has long said its preference is another referendum on Brexit, and leader Jo Swinson went on the attack against Labour last night over its failure to back a so-called People’s Vote through amendments to the Queen’s Speech.
A Lib Dem spokesman said: “As for a general election, we would not support one until an extension to Article 50 was confirmed. “
DUP
Sammy Wilson, the party’s Brexit spokesman, has indicated that the unionists could support an election in a bid to secure better terms with the EU.
Speaking last week, he said: “I believe, with a big majority, (the PM) can be more robust in his negotiations.”
PLAID CYMRU
The pro-independence party for Wales, which has four MPS in Westminster, does not see an election changing what it regards to be the fundamentals of the Brexit debate – even with an EU extension.
“Our priority remains delivering a final say referendum, rather than an election, as the clearest way to end the Brexit chaos.”
GREEN PARTY
Another pro-second referendum outfit, the party would prefer to give the public a final say on the Brexit deal.
But given they have appointed a new head of communications this week suggests the leadership is gearing up for a fight to win its much sought after second parliamentary seat.