Boris sticks boot in again as Corbyn vows to block second bid for an election
Berger joins Lib Dems ‘to halt Brexit’
LABOUR was mocked by Boris Johnson last night after opposition MPs signalled it will again block attempts to trigger a general election.
Jeremy Corbyn has been demanding a poll for two years but he ordered his party to reject a motion for a snap vote this week.
And Labour MPs yesterday said they would reject another attempt on Monday to allow an election before the end of October – regardless of whether their leader decided to back it.
Mr Johnson attacked Parliament for “torpedoing” his negotiations with Brussels while also stopping the public from having a chance to decide.
He said Mr Corbyn was the “first leader of the opposition” in history to pass up the chance of an election and claimed it was a “breach of his job description”.
The Prime Minister said he wanted a general election on October 15 but would hold it even earlier if Mr Corbyn would prefer. He added: “Let’s crack on with it.”
Mr Corbyn has said his party would back an election once legislation to block a no-deal exit had been passed, which is expected to happen by Monday.
Shadow chancellor John McDonnell claimed his party was “desperate” for an election but is deciding whether that should take place in November after Mr Johnson’s promised Brexit departure date.A series of Labour MPs admitted they would vote to stop a poll earlier.
Susan Elan Jones said: “There should not be a general election before 31st October – and hell will freeze over before I vote for one.The stop no-deal Bill must be implemented first.”
Labour former minister Ben Bradshaw said Mr Johnson’s call for an October election was a “last desperate throw of dice”.
He said: “Labour and the other opposition parties must not save him, but ensure an election is only called after October 31, when he will have failed completely.”
But Labour MP Lucy Powell said the party must not refuse to give voters a chance to choose a government. She said: “There’s no doubt a general election needs to happen and soon.
“We have a government with no majority, barely a minority, and complete deadlock on the biggest issue of our time.” FORMER Labour frontbencher Luciana Berger joined the Liberal Democrats yesterday with the aim to stop Brexit.
The Liverpool Wavertree MP left Labour in February to form the Independent Group, which later evolved into Change UK.
But she left that party in June and has now joined Jo Swinson’s Lib Dems. Ms Berger said: “The Liberal Democrats are committed to securing Britain’s future as a tolerant, open, inclusive society.”
Her decision to join the Lib Dems comes two days after Phillip Lee’s defection from the Tories in the Commons.
Ms Swinson said: “We’re thrilled to add Luciana’s perspective, expertise and skills to our ever-growing parliamentary team.
“The Liberal Democrats are growing in strength as we lead the fight to stop Brexit.”