Snap election speculation mounts as No 10 calls emergency cabinet

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Source: The Guardian

Snap election speculation mounts as No 10 calls emergency cabinet

No 10 says vote on bill to delay Brexit will be treated as ‘expression of confidence’

Peter Walker and Jessica Elgot
Mon 2 Sep 2019 15.09 BST First published on Mon 2 Sep 2019 12.51 BST

Speculation is mounting that Boris Johnson could call a snap general election if backbench rebels succeed in passing a bill to delay Brexit, with a Downing Street source saying the issue would be treated as “an expression of confidence” in the government.

Johnson’s cabinet ministers are being summoned for an emergency cabinet meeting on Monday afternoon, before the prime minister addresses Conservative MPs at a No 10 drinks reception.

Senior sources among the cross-party group of rebels say they believe Johnson could seek a snap general election as early as Wednesday, asking for the two-thirds majority needed in the Commons under the Fixed-term Parliaments Act.

The sources suggested the vote would come with a commitment that polling day would be before 31 October, though the date would ultimately be in the control of the government.

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Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/sep/02/brexit-no-10-boris-johnson-ignore-legislation-block-no-deal

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