Jeremy Corbyn will oppose election unless No-Deal gets blocked

4 September 2019, 10:32

Jeremy Corbyn said he would not support an election until No-Deal is ruled out
Jeremy Corbyn said he would not support an election until No Deal is ruled out. Picture: PA
Nick Hardinges

By Nick Hardinges

Jeremy Corbyn last night demanded Boris Johnson must first pass a bill preventing the UK leaving the EU without a deal before he backs a snap election.

The Labour leader told the prime minister that he would not support a snap election until NoDeal was taken off the table during a heated exchange last night in the House of Commons.

Opposition MPs and 21 Tory rebels defeated the government in its first showdown in Parliament and in doing so took control of the parliamentary timetable.

Labour fear that Boris Johnson could move the date of the election past the UK's departure date on 31 October
Labour fear that Boris Johnson could move the date of the election past the UK's departure date on 31 October. Picture: PA

Speaking at the dispatch box, Mr Corbyn said: "He wants to table a motion for a general election, fine. Get the bill through first in order to take No Deal off the table.

"There is no majority to leave without a deal within the country."

Labour hope that cross-party legislation proposed by Hilary Benn MP will today be passed in Parliament that prevents the UK from leaving the EU without a deal.

Its purpose is to either guarantee a deal is in place, or to ensure Parliament approves No Deal by 19 October.

Hilary Benn's Bill will be voted on today in Parliament
Hilary Benn's Bill will be voted on today in Parliament. Picture: PA

Without either of these conditions the Benn Bill will require the PM to write to the EU seeking an extension to Article 50 until 31 January 2020.

Shadow Brexit Secretary, Keir Starmer, said it was Parliament's "last chance" to prevent a "reckless and damaging" exit from the European Union.

For more details on what could happen next click here.

Mr Starmer tweeted: “Hugely important first step in stopping Boris Johnson’s plan for a No Deal Brexit. Important we remain united in making sure the bill becomes law in the coming days.”

Boris Johnson had previously said the UK would be leaving the EU come what may and he told the Commons he would rather table a motion seeking a general election than accept a bill that would rule out No Deal.

He said: "The leader of the opposition has been begging for an election for two years.

“He has thousands of supporters outside calling for an election. I don’t want an election but if MPs vote tomorrow to stop negotiations and to compel another pointless delay to Brexit potentially for years then that would be the only way to resolve this."

The government needs the support of two-thirds of MPs to force an election which means that outcome is unlikely without the support of the Labour benches.

Shadow foreign secretary Emily Thornberry was vocal in her support for the opposition leader, saying that an election would not happen because legislation to stop No Deal was a priority.

However, Labour were unable to whip two of their MPs in last night's vote.

Kate Hoey and John Mann defied Labour's position and voted in favour of the government.

In a tweet by the Brexit supporting MP for Bassetlaw, Mr Mann said: “Oh these clever people. Let’s spit on the working class and a majority of the electorate. Stop Brexit. Then ask them to vote us into power.

“We are dealing with people who don’t respect the views of the people.”