EU agrees to ‘principle’ of giving UK extension

PM insists October 31 exit still possible, but it ‘depends on what the EU says’

Boris Johnson has told Jeremy Corbyn to “man up” and back his plans for a pre-christmas general election, as EU ambassadors agreed that an extension to the UK’S membership is needed.

The prime minister reiterated his offer to give MPS more time to consider his Brexit plan if they agreed to a poll on December 12, and told the Labour leader it was up to him to decide whether to get the deal done.

Mr Johnson insisted Britain could still leave the EU on October 31 – despite the EU 27 accepting the “principle of an extension” – but said the fate of Britain’s exit date was now in Brussels’ hands.

During a visit to a hospital in Milton Keynes, the PM told reporters Labour was “split from top to bottom” on whether to hold an election.

“Time for Corbyn – man up. Let’s have an election on December 12.”

Chancellor Sajid Javid earlier conceded the Halloween deadline had slipped away.

However, Mr Johnson insisted that Britain could still leave the EU on October 31.

He said: “Unfortunately it depends on what the EU says.”

Mr Johnson said the government would continue to pursue the rest of its domestic agenda while pressing for an election.

“What we won’t do is engage in pointless Brexitology in Parliament when Parliament is simply committed to delay.”

Labour – whose votes will be needed if the PM is to get the two-thirds majority in the Commons which he requires to go to the country – has said it will only back the plan if Mr Johnson makes “absolutely clear” no deal is off the table and a January extension is granted.

“I’ve said all along, take no deal off the table and we’ll have the election,” Mr Corbyn told ITV’S This Morning.

But there are concerns in Whitehall that if ministers cannot get the Withdrawal Agreement Bill through now, they will be facing the prospect of yet another extension beyond January

“

Time for Corbyn – man up. Let’s have an election on December 12.

BORIS JOHNSON

31, with the possibility MPS could again take control of the Commons timetable to pass a “Benn Act 2”.

Following the meeting of EU ambassadors yesterday, the European Commission’s chief spokeswoman Mina Andreeva told a Brussels press briefing: “The EU 27 have agreed to the principle of an extension and work will now continue in the coming days.”

She said their intention was to take the decision by a written procedure, reducing the likelihood of an emergency EU summit next week, just days before Britain is currently due to leave.

An EU source said the ambassadors’ meeting was constructive and there was “full agreement” on the need for an extension.

They are expected to meet on Monday or Tuesday to finalise an agreement.

Many MPS say the prime minister’s proposed election timetable – which would require them to complete the ratification of his deal by November 6 when Parliament would be dissolved – still does not allow time for proper scrutiny.