An Xmas election?
New plan by Lib Dems and the SNP could deliver election in December
BORIS Johnson’s hopes of securing a pre-Christmas General Election were given a major boost last night.
In a joint announcement, the Lib Dems and the SNP backed an early vote and published a draft law which, if passed, would mean polling day would be on Monday, December 9.
Lib Dem leader Jo Swinson said she wanted to ‘resolve this impasse’, and argued the law would prevent a No Deal exit. It would only come into force if EU leaders delayed Brexit until the end of January.
This afternoon MPs will vote on Mr Johnson’s call for an election on Thursday, December 12. With Labour expected to vote against it, the motion is unlikely to reach the two-thirds majority required.
However, if the Lib Dem/SNP Bill is adopted by the Prime Minister, it would need only a majority of MPs to pass, sidelining Jeremy Corbyn entirely. When the idea emerged, Cabinet ministers were initially dismissive. On the Sunday morning political shows, Culture Secretary Nicky Morgan called it a ‘stunt’ and Tory chairman James Cleverly a ‘gimmick’.
But within hours, a Downing Street source said Mr Johnson would ‘look at all options’ if today’s vote fails. One insider called it a ‘gleam of light’.
The Mail understands Mr Johnson will also try to use the threat of an election as leverage over pro-Leave Labour MPs in an attempt to try to force his deal through.
He could challenge Labour MPs to commit to backing both the Withdrawal Bill and a timetable motion with an election hanging over their heads.
A senior No10 source said: ‘The message to Parliament is this is your final chance to get it done.
‘At some point there is going to a crunch decision. If MPs are still committing to blocking it, there’s only one way we are going.
‘If they are going to continue to prevaricate, the next logical choice is obvious.’
The unlikely pro-election alliance emerged ahead of what is expected to be another dramatic week in Westminster.
With the clock running down to Mr Johnson’s self-imposed Brexit deadline of October 31:
EU ambassadors were due to meet at 10.30am amid signs they would sign off a Brexit delay until the end of January;
Jeremy Corbyn made a humiliating U-turn and abandoned his requests for an election, saying he wouldn’t agree to one even if the three-month extension is agreed;
A poll put the Tories 16 points ahead of Labour on 40 points;
Labour peer Peter Mandelson said Labour would never win a majority with Mr Corbyn in charge, and;
The Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby faced a backlash after he suggested Boris Johnson and other MPs were pouring ‘petrol’ on a divided UK with their rhetoric.
The idea of a short Bill to set an election date in stone has been discussed by Mr Johnson’s aides in recent weeks.
But it was thought to be vulnerable to amendment by opposition parties demanding votes for 16 and 17-year-olds.
The publication of a carefully drafted proposal caught No10 offguard. In a sign of her seriousness, Miss Swinson said there wasn’t time for any such amendments.
‘I haven’t spoken to Boris Johnson’, she told the BBC’s Andrew Marr Show. ‘But if he is serious about wanting an election and if he’s genuine about having an election before Christmas, then he can back this Bill.’
The Bill would only allow for an election once the Brexit delay is agreed, and on a specific date. That, Miss Swinson said, meant No Deal was ‘off the table’.
Last month Mr Corbyn told the Commons he would support an election if the EU agreed to a three-month Brexit delay.
But, answering questions from reporters at a Unite union conference in Ayr yesterday, he confirmed a three-month delay until January 31 would not be enough, as No Deal was still in Mr Johnson’s thoughts.
He added: ‘No, because it’s still there in his mind, it’s still there in the Bill, and it’s still there as a threat. It’s got to be completely removed before we’ll support an
‘If Boris is serious, he can back this Bill’
election.’ Former Labour MP Frank Field told Sky News’ Sophy Ridge that Labour MPs were ‘pretty sick at the thought of having an election’ and would vote against. ‘It’s another hackneyed phrase, but turkeys don’t vote for Christmas,’ he said.
Today’s election motion would need support from 434 out of 650 MPs. But, with the backing of 19 Lib Dems and 35 SNP MPs, Mr Johnson would have enough votes to pass the election Bill. Aides said the Prime Minister would propose another election vote tomorrow, leaving Wednesday open for MPs to discuss the election Bill.
The Government would have to adopt the Bill, giving some flexibility on the exact timings. Any election takes place 25 days working days after Parliament is dissolved.
Selfie Swinson shows she’s up for a snap election
THIS is an uncomfortable week for the Prime Minister, not least on Thursday. Halloween, as Boris Johnson has never failed to remind us, is the deadline for the United Kingdom’s departure from the European Union. October 31 – the do or die, no ifs no buts, die in a ditch day.
And neither trick (prorogation) or treaty (now in limbo) has enabled him to fulfil that unambiguous promise. As the witching hour tolls, the UK will remain as shackled as ever to the EU, with a minority Conservative Government unable to deliver its central promise.
For Mr Johnson, this is truly a Nightmare on Downing Street. And if things don’t improve, Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage could deliver an all-too-real fright.
Mr Johnson needs a solution, and that can only be a general election. He wants one – on December 12 – and is asking for it in a motion in the Commons today. As things stand, it looks unlikely to succeed.
Labour is not going to oblige because it has a nightmare of its own, Jeremy Corbyn, leader of the Marxist Undead, whose political cowardice fuels this paralysis. Mr Corbyn has achieved the almost impossible for an Opposition leader by trailing consistently and substantially in the polls at a time of extended political crisis. He is indeed a dead man walking, but his lieutenants are too spineless to consign him to his political grave.
Yet, Mr Johnson is being offered a way out. The Liberal Democrats and SNP are willing to enshrine a December 9 election in law, subject to a Brexit extension until the end of January.
Tory chairman James Cleverly describes this as a ‘gimmick’. Well, it’s a gimmick his party should not dismiss lightly.
Mr Johnson has banked his career on a combative approach to Brexit but the moment of battle is not in his gift. He must accept this offer and get on with it.
Otherwise, he will be portrayed as the ditherer and delayer, and his popularity will ebb. Only an election will exorcise this zombie Parliament.