Boris Johnson news - live: PM tries different route to get December general election after MPs vote against initial bid

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European leaders agree 'flextension' missing October 31 Brexit deadline

EU ambassadors have agreed on a Brexit extension until 31 January 2020 – killing off Boris Johnson’s pledge to deliver the UK’s exit from the bloc by Halloween. I

It comes as the prime minister lost his attempt to call an election on 12 December, after failing to achieve a two-thirds majority in the Commons. But the Lib Dems and the SNP have proposed a one-line bill to bypass the FTPA – one that would require only a simple majority to get an election.

No 10 said the government would introduce an “almost identical” one-line bill if Mr Johnson’s initial bid fails. Senior Labour figures condemned Lib Dem leader Jo Swinson’s “sell-out” offer to help the PM secure a December poll.

Key Points

• EU ambassadors grant three-month Brexit 'flextension'
• MPs reject motion for election on 12 December election
• ... but No 10 planning to bring forward alternative Bill for early election
• Jo Swinson says her plan for 9 December election 'sensible'
• Labour fury at 'sell-out' Lib Dem offer to back government

[28 October 2019 21:00 · Ashley Cowburn]

No10 will not reintroduce Brexit Bill if MPs agree to election

No 10 has said Boris Johnson will not introduce the withdrawal agreement bill if MPs vote for the one-line bill on an early general election in the coming days.

A source said: “Tonight we are laying a one clause motion to amend the FTPA and call an election with the named day of 12 December. The Bill is very similar to the LD/SNP Bill. The WAB will not be put back. This is the way to get Brexit done so the country can move on.”

[28 October 2019 21:34 · Vincent Wood]

The government's no deal planning is understood to have been stepped down as the possibility of a no-deal Brexit on 31 October falls into impossibility.

While some elements of the operation will be maintained in keeping with the government's position that a no-deal scenario is still possible in the long term, Sky News reports Operation Yellowhammer has been stood down.

Operation Yellowhammer is understood to have cost roughly £2billion so far.

[28 October 2019 22:16 · Vincent Wood]

End of the road for the Brexit 50p coins

The 50p Brexit coins that were to be a limited collector's run under Philip Hammond before becoming a full-scale operation under Sajid Javid are never to see the light of day.

It seems the currency it was hoped would serve as a symbol of the nation will now melt down in the face of another extension, according to Bloomberg's Jess Shankleman.

The coins had been a source of controversy in the past - with some vowing to return them to the bank in a show of protest against Brexit.