UK on course for December general election as Corbyn backs poll

The UK is on course for a December general election after Labour announced its conditions to back the move had been met.

Jeremy Corbyn told his shadow cabinet Labour would launch the “most ambitious and radical campaign for real change our country has ever seen” now a no-deal Brexit was “off the table”.

Mr Corbyn said: “I have consistently said that we are ready for an election and our support is subject to a no-deal Brexit being off the table.

“We have now heard from the EU that the extension of Article 50 to January 31 has been confirmed, so for the next three months, our condition of taking no-deal off the table has now been met.

“We will now launch the most ambitious and radical campaign for real change our country has ever seen.”

It comes ahead of the British Government’s bid to convince MPs to back a poll on December 12.

Labour campaign group Momentum tweeted: “Labour are officially backing an election. This is the opportunity of a lifetime to put an end to the shambolic mess the Tories have made and return hope to millions. Let’s do this.”

Labour are officially backing an election.

This is the opportunity of a lifetime to put an end to the shambolic mess the Tories have made and return hope to millions.

Let's do this. https://t.co/ztoJCpAdic

— Momentum (@PeoplesMomentum) October 29, 2019

Green MP Caroline Lucas, who has been working for a second referendum on Brexit, said Labour’s decision to back an early general election was “hugely disappointing”.

She tweeted: “Hugely disappointing if true. Why give Johnson exactly what he wants?

“Election – esp under First Past the Post – won’t resolve Brexit.

“Many examples of majority Govt being returned on minority vote – real risk that the majority in favour of #PeoplesVote won’t have voices heard.”