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Wales Online
Wales Online
National
Ian Hughes

General election date set for December 12 as MPs vote to back Boris Johnson's bill

The UK will hold a general election on December 12 after the House of Commons voted to back Boris Johnson's bill.

Deciding the threat of a no-deal Brexit was off the table, Jeremy Corbyn announced he would be supporting the snap poll - despite previously blocking a election on three occasions.

The bill was passed by a majority of 418, receiving only 20 votes against and was the last of four attempts by the Prime Minister to call his snap poll.

An earlier amendment to move the date of the election to December 9 was voted down.

The bill will be debated in the Lords tomorrow before it is given Royal Assent Thursday.

Parliament will then be dissolved and Britain begin the countdown to the first December election since 1923.

Whatever the outcome, it would return a new Government just weeks before the new Brexit deadline of January 31.

The bill had been expected to pass without Labour support due to an agreement between the Conservative Party, SNP and the Liberal Democrats.

On backing a December election, Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said: "We're going to go out there  with the biggest campaign this party has ever mounted.

"Totally united. Totally determined and I'm looking forward to going to every part of this country with my wonderful shadow cabinet team here and all the fantastic Labour activists to give a message of hope where there isn't one with this government."

Johnson said an election was needed because delaying Brexit is "seriously damaging to the national interest", while a fresh Parliament would have a "new mandate to deliver on the will of the people and get Brexit done".

The Brexit extension Brussels granted on Monday paved the way for the winter ballot.

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