Boris Johnson news - LIVE: PM refuses to rule out holding election after Halloween in order to first force through no-deal Brexit
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Boris Johnson refused to rule out holding a general election after 31 October to force through a no-deal Brexit if he loses a no-confidence vote in the Commons.
Shadow chancellor John McDonnell said he “would be sending Jeremy Corbyn in a cab to Buckingham Palace to say ‘we’re taking over’”, if the prime minister ignores a vote of no confidence.
MPs opposed to no deal are reportedly considering a move to have parliament sit during conference season in a bid to pass legislation to extend Article 50.
In a Facebook live video broadcast from his office at Number 10, the prime minister announced the government would make changes to immigration rules to attract more scientists from around the world.
His comments came after he visited the Centre for Fusion Energy in Culham, where he was told they were "only a few years away from being able to provide UK-made fusion reactors".
And Scottish Labour sent a warning to Jeremy Corbyn expressing "serious concerns" over deepening splits on the party's stance on independence.
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Boris Johnson wants to hold a general election in the “days after” forcing through a no-deal Brexit on 31 October, his aides have told the Financial Times.
The election would only happen if he loses a no confidence vote in parliament, they suggested.
“We can’t stop them forcing an election but we control the timetable so we will force the date after October 31,” a senior 10
Downing Street official told the newspaper. “If there must be a general election, then it will be days after October 31.”
Another official “did not deny” that an election would be held in the first few days of November – immediately after the UK would come crashing out of the EU.
It corroborates a report on The Spectator earlier today that claimed the talk in Whitehall is currently all about planning for a 1 November general election.
The row over beef pricing continues to rumble on after farmers rejected the government’s offer of talks.
The Department of Agriculture claims it reached out to members of the Beef Plan Movement, who have been holding protests outside meat factories across the country, in order to halt the demonstrations and enter a phase of discussion.
The row has stemmed over the price of beef, which is at its lowest point in years, with many farmers claiming they are struggling to survive and will be forced out of business without government intervention.
The Department of Agriculture has previously stated that it cannot legally have any role in determining beef prices, as it is not the department's role to !comment on commercial decisions taken by private entities in an open market”.
The Minister for Agriculture Michael Creed released a statement today, expressing disappointment that the offer of talks had been rejected.
PA
Anna Soubry, leader of The Independent Group for Change, has said “the greatest tragedy” would be to crash out on the EU on 31 October and hold a general election the following day.
Scottish Labour has fired off a warning to Jeremy Corbyn to express “serious concerns” over deepening splits on the party’s stance on independence.
In a sternly worded statement, the MSPs said they “deplore any attempts to undermine the official position” of the Scottish party and they “expect all Scottish Labour MPs and MSPs” to join in opposing a second referendum on Scotland’s membership of the United Kingdom.
More on this from political correspondent Lizzy Buchan here:
Boris Johnson has just given an update from his office in 10 Downing Street in a Facebook live video.
The prime minister said he wanted to talk about what the government has been doing over the last few days.
Mr Johnson said he visited the Centre for Fusion Energy in Culham this morning, where he was told they were "only a few years away from being able to provide UK-made fusion reactors".
In light of this, the prime minister announced that the government would be "changing the rules on immigration to make the UK even more open and welcoming to scientists from around the world".
He added that the government would be putting £1.1bn into 20,000 more police officers and investing in the NHS with £1.8bn for 20 new hospital upgrades.
Mr Johnson also reiterated that the UK will leave the EU on 31 October, "no ifs, no buts".
Former Scottish secretary David Mundell has said a no-deal Brexit is better than not leaving the EU.
The Conservative MP also said Scotland should not be denied a second independence referendum if a pro-independence majority is returned at the 2021 Scottish Parliament election on a manifesto of holding a further ballot.
Speaking at a Fringe by the Sea event in North Berwick, East Lothian, Mr Mundell stressed he believed leaving the EU with a deal was best – but that he wanted Brexit to happen regardless.
Former Scottish secretary David Mundell (PA)
He said: “I think we have to have a Brexit rather than no Brexit. I’m clear that that is an important principle. It’s honouring the 2016 referendum.
“I would never myself vote against a Conservative Government in a vote of no-confidence.
“I think as a Conservative MP that is not something you can ever reasonably do.”
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