Boris Johnson will make his third attempt to call a general election. In an interview with the BBC, the Prime Minister unveiled his new offer to opposition MPs: he will bring the Withdrawal Agreement Bill back to the Commons on the condition that there is a general election on 12 December. Explaining his decision, Johnson said that he believed the UK was heading for an extension – something he regretted.
He said he was willing to bring his Withdrawal Agreement Bill back to the Commons so long as MPs agree that a general election will follow. The reason?
‘In order to create a deadline that is credible in everybody’s mind then there must be that hard stop of a general election.’
But is it in Johnson’s control when an election happens? Johnson will hold a vote on Monday under the Fixed-Term Parliaments Act which requires two thirds of MPs to agree to an election in order for it to go ahead.
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