No 10 threatens to pull election bill as Labour mulls wrecking amendments
The Prime Minister has urged MPs to back him in his fourth attempt at calling a general election, telling them he has secured a new Brexit deal that is “ready to be approved by a new parliament”.
But Number 10 has warned that if any amendments go through that affect electoral franchise – either by extending the right to vote to 16 and 17-year-olds, or EU citizens – the government would pull the bill.
Introducing the election bill for its second reading this afternoon, Boris Johnson told the Commons today: “There is only one way to get Brexit done in the face of relentless parliamentary obstructionism,…and that is to refresh this partliament and give people a new choice.”
Jeremy Corbyn responded by saying Labour would back an election to get rid of “this reckless” government and pledged to campaign “all over the country – including in Uxbridge”, Johnson’s seat.
He said Labour would offer the public a vote on the final terms of a Brexit deal.
However he faced a revolt as he spoke, with MPs including Paul Farrelly, who said they would not back the move. Labour MPs appeared downbeat as Corbyn spoke.
Others sought to push for amendments, including Stephen Doughty’s recommendation that 16 and 17 year olds be given the right to vote.
Earlier today Number 10 rejected the idea out of hand, with a spokesman saying it would be “administratively impossible to deliver in the time available”.
Meanwhile, extending the franchise to include EU citizens would cause “chaos” and “could undermine everyone’s ability to vote”.
Speaking this afternoon a second Number 10 spokesman said if either of those amendments were selected, the government would pull the bill. “If you vote for a change in the franchise, you are voting for a delay,” he said.
Corbyn indicated he would back both of these – which could ultimately kill the election bill – but he stressed he was “very ready” for an election “whatever date the house decides”.
Ahead of an expected election Downing Street is poised to offer the olive branch to some of the 21 rebels who still have not had the whip return after nearly two months.
“There has been a long ladder to climb – some have taken the decision to climb it,” said the spokesman, although he refused to be drawn on who would be restored to the party.
“I wouldn’t want to pre-empt what the chief whip will do,” he said, although noted: “It is crunch time.”
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