Election threat.....

Boris Johnson’s election threat to would-be rebels

If Tory MPs fail to back the government, they could have to face the public.

By ANNABELLE DICKSON, EMILIO CASALICCHIO AND KATE DAY

After a summer of shadow boxing, the bell has finally rung for the big parliamentary Brexit battle.

Downing Street on Monday issued an ultimatum to MPs attempting to change the law to prevent the U.K. from leaving the European Union without a deal — back off or face a general election on October 14.

Boris Johnson warned in a speech outside 10 Downing Street that if MPs begin the process of passing a bill on Tuesday forcing the government to request an extension from European leaders in the event of no deal, it would make negotiations “absolutely impossible.”

While the prime minister insisted he did not want a ballot — “I don’t want an election. You don’t want an election. Let’s get on with the people’s agenda” — senior officials later said that if Tory MPs vote against the prime minister on Tuesday, the government would push for a general election, likely on October 14.

'No circumstances'

Following a hurriedly arranged meeting of his Cabinet on Monday, Johnson insisted that there would be “no circumstances” under which he would request a Brexit delay from Brussels, warning MPs attempting to prevent the U.K. from leaving with no deal that they would “plainly chop the legs out from under the U.K. [negotiating] position.”

The prime minister said: “If there is one thing that can hold us back in these talks it is the sense in Brussels that MPs may find some way to cancel the referendum or that tomorrow MPs will vote with Jeremy Corbyn to get another pointless delay."

The move, designed to put pressure on Tory MPs not to vote against their own government, came shortly after a cross-party group of MPs published a draft bill which would force the prime minister to request a three-month extension to Brexit negotiations if a deal is not agreed between the EU and the U.K. by October’s European Council summit.

The extension bill, to be officially put forward by Labour MP Hilary Benn and which has been signed by Tories who served under Theresa May as well as MPs from other opposition parties, was revealed on Monday night.

It would force Johnson to request an extension from Brussels until January 31 2020 if he has failed to secure a deal by October 19. The bill spells out exactly what the prime minister would have to write to the bloc in his request, and notes that he would be forced to agree to any extension offered by the EU within two days unless the EU offer is rejected by parliament.

Election threat

Speaking after the statement, a senior government official set out the plan if the opposition proposal is successful, warning the government would put forward a motion for an early general election, which would be put to MPs on Wednesday.

"If they vote tomorrow to wreck the negotiating process, to go against giving Britain the ability to negotiate a deal, they will also have to reflect on what comes next," the official warned.

In order to call an election, the prime minister must first secure backing of two-thirds of MPs in the House of Commons. Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn indicated on Monday he was likely to back such a move, saying the U.K. “needs” a general election.

Also in his statement outside Downing Street, Johnson tried to persuade wavering Tory MPs who could vote for the Brexit extension bill that he was “encouraged” by the “progress” the U.K. was making in the Brexit negotiations.

“In the last few weeks the chances of a deal have been rising, I believe, for three reasons,” he explained. “They can see that we want a deal. They can see that we have a clear vision for our future relationship with the EU — something that has perhaps not always been the case. And they can see that we are utterly determined to strengthen our position by getting ready to come out regardless, come what may.”

But former Chancellor Philip Hammond penned a letter to Johnson demanding he set out exactly what progress has been made since the prime minister visited Berlin 11 days ago.

Shadow Brexit Secretary Keir Starmer said the bill would stop Johnson “forcing through a reckless and damaging” no-deal Brexit on October 31 and could be “parliament’s last chance to stop a no-deal Brexit.”