Boris Johnson to launch fresh bid on Monday for 15 October snap election
2 min read
MPs will be given a fresh vote on Monday on whether there should be a snap election on 15 October.
Boris Johnson will table a fresh motion under the Fixed Term Parliaments Act, meaning he will need the backing of at least two-thirds of MPs to be successful.
The Prime Minister's initial attempt to force a poll was blocked on Wednesday night when only 298 MPs supported it, well short of the 434 required.
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has said his party does want an election, but not until a rebel bill blocking a no-deal Brexit is on the statute books.
That is expected to happen on Monday - before MPs vote on the PM's new election bid.
A furious row has erupted within Labour over whether they should back an election on Mr Johnson's preferred timetable, or in November.
PoliticsHome understands that Labour chief whip Nick Brown clashed with Seumas Milne, Mr Corbyn's director of strategy and communications, on Wednesday.
Most Labour MPs, as well as Shadow Brexit Secretary Keir Starmer and Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell, believe an election should not take place until after the current Brexit deadline of 31 October has passed.
But Mr Corbyn's office believes the country should go to the polls as soon as possible.
Both the Lib Dems and Plaid Cymru want a November poll, but the SNP have said they would prefer a 15 October election.
That opens up the possibility of Mr Johnson eventually introducing a one-line bill over-riding the FTPA calling for an election on that date.
Crucially, that would only require a simple Commons majority, which the Government could achieve with the SNP's backing.
PoliticsHome also understands that a planned meeting between the opposition parties to discuss their approach to the issue, which was due to take place on Thursday, has not happened.
PoliticsHome Newsletters
PoliticsHome provides the most comprehensive coverage of UK politics anywhere on the web, offering high quality original reporting and analysis: Subscribe
