Boris Johnson to push on with attempt to secure pre-Christmas general election

Boris Johnson is to push on with his effort to secure a pre-Christmas general election after MPs rejected his third attempt to go to the country.

The British Prime Minister failed to get the two-thirds majority he needed to secure an election on December 12 under the Fixed-Term Parliaments Act (FTPA).

However, Mr Johnson said he would now come back with a “short” Bill setting aside the provisions of the FTPA which would require just a simple majority.

He said he would continue to press for a December 12 polling day – even though the Liberal Democrats and the SNP suggested at the weekend they could support a slightly earlier date of December 9.

Following the vote – which saw the Government fall 135 votes short of the 434 needed – Mr Johnson told MPs they had to end the deadlock over Brexit.

“We will not allow this paralysis to continue,” he said.

Boris Johnson’s third attempt for early election rejected by MPs

MPs have rejected Boris Johnson’s third attempt to force an early general election to end the Brexit deadlock.

The British Prime Minister had urged the Commons to back his plan for a poll on December 12 – which would have provided time to pass the Withdrawal Agreement Bill before the campaign starts.

But MPs voted 299 to 70, short of the two-thirds majority needed, in favour of a snap election.

Mr Johnson is now expected to make a fresh attempt to drive legislation through the Commons which would only require a simple majority, and set aside the provisions of the Fixed-Term Parliaments Act.

It comes after the Liberal Democrats and SNP indicated over the weekend that they would back such an approach if the poll was held on December 9.

Johnson has told MPs the British government will now give notice of a short Bill for a general election on December 12.
Johnson says Commons is ‘incapable’ of delivering Brexit as he urges MPs to back poll

Boris Johnson has said the House of Commons is “incapable” of delivering Brexit as he urged MPs to back his plan for a pre-Christmas general election.

The British Prime Minister’s rallying cry came as he confirmed the UK’s “formal agreement” to the EU extending Britain’s membership until January 31 – unless Parliament ratifies his Brexit deal sooner.

With his pledge to take Britain out of the EU by the end of this month in tatters, Mr Johnson called on MPs to back his plan for a poll on December 12 – which would provide time to pass the Withdrawal Agreement Bill before the campaign starts.

Mr Johnson said: “Across the country there is a widespread view that this Parliament has run its course.

“I simply do not believe that this House is capable of delivering on the priorities of the people, whether that means Brexit or anything else.”