Government officials revealed Boris Johnson plans to call a 14 October general election if he loses a crunch no-deal Brexit vote in the Commons on Tuesday.
The sources said the prime minister was confident that the election motion would receive the two-thirds majority required to trigger an early poll under the Fixed Term Parliaments Act.
Ministers will table the motion by the end of Tuesday, but it will be moved to a vote on Wednesday only if MPs vote tomorrow to take control of Commons business in order to pass a bill to block a no-deal Brexit on 31 October.
In an unexpected statement outside Number 10 on Monday, Mr Johnson insisted there were “no circumstances” in which he would delay Brexit beyond the current deadline.
The prime minister warned that MPs would “chop the legs out” from the UK position if they backed a Brexit extension as he addressed the nation this evening.
Good morning and welcome to The Independent's live coverage of events at Westminster.
Shadow business secretary Rebecca Long-Bailey warned that this week is the “last chance” to stop a “disastrous” no-deal departure.
She told the Today programme that this was because of the “constitutional outrage” of Boris Johnson’s suspension of Parliament.
The Labour MP also said she supports all lawful and peaceful protests against no-deal and did not rule out backing those who plan to occupy Parliament.
Asked about the move proposed by the Momentum group, she said: “As long as it’s peaceful and it's within the law, then I would have no problem with it. I think everybody has the right to voice their concerns and to protest.”
Tony Blair is calling for Labour to oppose any move by Boris Johnson to hold an emergency general election until Brexit has been resolved.
The former PM is making a speech at the Institute for Government today and he is expected to say that Jeremy Corbyn should not “fall into the elephant trap” of backing a Westminster poll if MPs cannot agree on Brexit.
Blair will say Labour should throw its weight behind supporting legislation to prevent a no-deal Brexit, not a vote of no confidence in the government.
“Should the Government seek an election, it should be refused in favour of a referendum. It is counter-intuitive for opposition parties to refuse an election.
“But in this exceptional case, it is vital they do so as a matter of principle, until Brexit is resolved. Brexit is an issue which stands on its own, was originally decided on its own and should be reconsidered on its own.
“But the Brexiteers are laying a trap, to seem as if pushed into an election against their will, when they're actively preparing for it.”
Blair is set to praise Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn for his recent willingness to work with other parties.
“In backing away from the idea of himself as a ‘caretaker prime minister’ Jeremy Corbyn has behaved responsibly, and if he continues to put country first, he will benefit the country and himself.
“He can now play a decisive role in how Brexit develops. But he should see an election for the elephant trap it is. If the government tries to force an election, Labour should vote against it.”
Former Tory minister David Gauke has accused Boris Johnson of “goading” some Tories to rebel against the Government so they can be purged from the party and a general election can be forced.
The key no-deal Brexit opponent said the PM’s move to put Tory rebels on notice that they face losing the whip was an “unusual approach”.
“It’s obviously a particularly confrontational approach and, I think, designed, frankly, to realign the Conservative Party, to transform the Conservative Party very much in the direction of a Brexit party,” Mr Gauke told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme.
The MP said he had not heard from party whips in an attempt to convince him to support the Government.
“I don’t think there seems to be a huge effort to persuade people to support the government this week. I think they seem to be quite prepared for there to be a rebellion then to purge those who support the rebellion from the party.
“Normally there would be plenty of cajoling. One would have friends from the cabinet phoning up and saying ‘Come on, why don’t you support the government, give them a bit more time?’
“None of that is happening. The usual operation isn’t particularly happening. It does seem to me they are almost goading people into voting against the government.
“Because I think the strategy, to be honest, is to lose this week and then seek a general election, having removed those of us who are not against Brexit, not against leaving the European Union, but believe we should do so with a deal.”
Rebel MPs have been told they could have the whip removed and would be banned from standing as Conservative candidates in the next election – if they vote with the opposition this week.
Here’s Lizzy Buchan with all the details.
Boris Johnson threatens to sack Tories who back law to block no-deal Brexit
Decision comes after crunch talks with whips at Chequers retreat on Sunday, The Independent understandsShadow Brexit secretary Keir Starmer is among the MPs suggesting the legislation designed to block a no-deal Brexit on 31 October could be surprisingly simple.
On Sunday Michael Gove hinted the precise wording of any bill would matter – and sparked fury by refusing to say whether the government would abide by any legislation passed.
The opposition is keen to avoid giving the government any wiggle room whatsoever.
“The legislation is intended to ensure we don’t leave without a deal, that will require an extension,” said Starmer. “The length of the extension is secondary, frankly. We have simply got to stop us leaving without a deal.”
“Obviously if we’re at the 31 October that will require an extension. But I think this should be a very short, simple exercise designed to ensure we don’t crash out without a deal.”
Lib Dem MP Chuka Umunna echoed the idea on the Today programme.
“We believe that MP colleagues would be making a grave mistake if they throw all their eggs into the basket of legislating to extend Article 50 because we saw from the Vote Leave campaign, let’s face it they now run the government, that we’ve got a group of people here who are prepared to lie, to cheat and break the rules to win at any cost,” he said.
“So, even if the Commons successfully legislates to get an extension, it may not necessarily work. The government may find a way around it.”
David Gauke had plenty to say on the Today programme this morning.
As well as accusing Boris Johnson of “goading” him and his fellow Tory rebels into voting with the opposition so a general election can be forced, he also warned there is a 95 per cent chance of a no-deal Brexit if MPs cannot legislate against the event, as he accused the Government of having no credible plan to leave with a deal.
Gauke also said he has written to Attorney General Geoffrey Cox after Michael Gove refused to confirm whether ministers would abide by any law passed.
“I think it would be very helpful if the Government could clarify that they believe in the rule of law,” he said, before adding that he wanted “to get confirmation that this government believes in the rule of law, that it will comply with the law, and if legislation is properly passed it will be complied with.”
Lib Dem leader Jo Swinson wants the Operation Yellowhammer dossier of no-deal Brexit impacts released in full.
The party’s Brexit spokesperson Tom Brake has already written to cabinet secretary Sir Mark Sedwill urging him to let the public see an unedited version following reports Michael Gove is trying to “soft soap” and “sanitise” the document before its possible release next week.
Tony Blair is speaking at the Institute of Government this morning. He claimed the government had “been taken over by a gang of adventurers … posing as the saviours of the people”.
He has also warned Jeremy Corbyn not to “fall into the elephant trap” of backing a general election if MPs cannot agree on Brexit. “The Brexiteers are laying a trap, to seem as if pushed into an election whilst actively preparing for one.”
The former prime minister has also said the consequence of Brexit is to “diminish Britain globally".
“In a short amount of time the world will be big global blocks - USA, China and probably India. [The EU] is not about peace, it is about power."
Britain “should retain its special relationship with America but its natural home is in Europe,” he added.
Commons leader Jacob Rees-Mogg has defended the tough line being taken by No 10 against potential Tory rebels and insisted the prorogation of parliament is “completely routine”.
“I think that it is important for the government to establish the House of Commons and that this is essentially a confidence matter,” he told LBC Radio.
“Is there really a Conservative in this country who thinks that Jeremy Corbyn should control our legislative agenda?”
He also said any government of national unity led by Ken Clarke would be “blowing a raspberry at 17.4 million people … and I am not a raspberry blower”.
Here’s our deputy political editor Rob Merrick with more on David Gauke’s remarkable claim that the prime minister is trying to “goad” rebel Tory MPs into voting with the opposition and provoke a general election.
Boris Johnson 'wants to lose' to Brexit rebels as an excuse to 'purge' moderate Tories and force election, ex-minister says
David Gauke says Tories are being 'goaded' to help block a no-deal departure - allowing prime minister to turn to the public for mandate
Jeremy Corbyn is visiting Salford today and has summoned the shadow cabinet for emergency talks to hammer out tactics to prevent a no-deal Brexit.
Our political correspondent Lizzy Buchan has the details.
Jeremy Corbyn vows to 'pull Britain back from the brink' in outspoken attack on Boris Johnson
Labour leader will summon shadow cabinet for emergency talks to agree tacticsOliver Letwin, Dominic Grieve and Keir Starmer reportedly believe they can push through a bill to block no deal in “just a few hours”.
A draft version of their motion leaked to BuzzFeed News shows reveals the planned legislation would require Boris Johnson to seek an extension of Article 50 from the EU if a new deal with Brussels hasn’t been reached by a certain date in October.
While some think the bill could be passed on Wednesday after the opposition takes control of the order paper on Tuesday. But some believe it could even be done on Tuesday, within hours of an emergency debate.
There was a “significant spike” in Islamophobic incidents in the wake of Boris Johnson’s comparison between women in burkas and letterboxes, according to an anti-racism organisation.
Tell MAMA said there was a 375 per cent increase in anti-Muslim incidents from the week before Johnson made the comments to the week after.
In the week following the publication of Johnson’s controversial DailyTelegraph column in which he compared veiled Muslim women to “letterboxes”, 38 incidents were reported to police and Tell MAMA.
Of those incidents, 22 involved “visibly Muslim women who wore the face veil”, according to the organisation. “Between August 5 and August 29, 42 per cent of the street-based incidents reported to Tell MAMA directly referenced Boris Johnson and/or the language used in his column,” a statement from the organisation said.
In his Telegraph article in August 2018, Mr Johnson said full-face veils should not be banned, but it was “absolutely ridiculous” women chose to “go around looking like letterboxes”. He also compared them to “bank robbers”.
Johnson later defended his words, insisting that the backlash against them was nothing more than “confected indignation” at his “strong views” on Brexit.
David Gauke thinks Boris Johnson is goading rebel MPs into a general election. Tony Blair has warned Labour not to fall for the “elephant trap” of an immediate election.
Labour MP Ben Bradshaw has said: “I and I think the vast majority of Labour MPs, including the front bench will not help Mr Johnson engineer a general election on his terms to crash us out of the European Union without a deal.
“[Tony Blair] is very right to warn about that danger and I’m absolutely confident Jeremy Corbyn and the whole of our front bench are very cognisant of that danger.”
A reminder that shadow chancellor John McDonnell said “bring it on” at the weekend.
Here’s our political editor Andrew Woodcock with more on Tony Blair’s election warning for the Labour leadership.
Tony Blair urges Jeremy Corbyn to avoid general election until after Brexit is sorted
Former prime minister says government has been taken over by a 'gang of adventurers' acting in a 'shocking, irresponsible and dangerous' wayAnother former Labour PM is out and about today. Gordon Brown is visiting the Liverpool co-operative Homebaked on Monday to discuss the impact of a no-deal Brexit on food supply.
Brown joined the GMB union, campaign group Hope Not Hate and food charity Sustain to write to Boris Johnson warning of “potentially disastrous” risks a crashing out poses to the availability of food – including a significant rise in poverty.
“Food prices are going up and will go up even further because of Brexit, supplies of food will not be able to come into the country uninterrupted – that means vegetables and fruit and absolutely essential supplies to a young child’s diet,” he said.
“If cannot guarantee that the supplies of food cannot be guaranteed … then you cannot go ahead with a no-deal Brexit.”
Brown also said it would be a “constitutional outrage” if the government did not abide by legislation to stop a no-deal Brexit.
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has begun speaking in Salford. “The people will not allow a phoney populist cabal in Downing Street, in hock to the vested interest of the rich, to deny them their democratic voice,” he said.
“So, when a prime minister who hasn’t won an election, who hasn’t won a majority, decrees that parliament should be shut down because he knows his plan for a disastrous no-deal doesn't have the votes, we say this is an attack on democracy that will be resisted.”
Corbyn also said the government was “threatening to just ignore legislation it doesn't like”, in reference to plans by opposition parties to block no-deal.
“That is how the elite operate. The rules they set for everyone else only apply to them when it suits them. Labour will never try to silence parliament.”
Repeating language he used in a recent column for The Independent, he said a no-deal Brexit would be a “Trump-deal Brexit” and would put UK public services “at the mercy” of big business in the US.
Jeremy Corbyn has been asked about a possible general election. Despite Tony Blair’s warning earlier this morning, he talked positively about the idea of heading to the polls.
“First we must come together to stop no-deal – this week could be our last chance.
“We are working with other parties to do everything necessary to pull our country back from the brink. Then we need a general election.
“When a government finds itself without a majority, the solution is not to undermine democracy – the solution is to let the people decide, and call a general election.
“A general election is the democratic way forward, to give the people the choice between two very different directions for our country.”
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