NATIVITY plays across Britain could be thrown into disarray with school halls being requestioned for the first December General Election since 1923.
It looks increasingly likely that European leaders will offer the UK a Brexit extension until the end of January next year – despite Boris Johnson's insistence that there should be no further delay.
The Prime Minister spoke to the European Council president Donald Tusk yesterday morning after MPs approved his Brexit deal but rejected his push to fast-track it through the Commons in just three days.
The Tory leader is keen for a winter vote, but the Fixed Term Parliament Act means that can only happen if backed by two-thirds of MPs.
Both Labour and the SNP have made clear they will only back a snap election if the threat of a No-Deal Brexit is removed.
READ MORE: Johnson slammed for saying he'll ignore the Scottish Parliament on Brexit Bill
Speaking in Westminster, Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon agreed.
“I want to see a General Election. I would be very happy to see that General Election before Christmas but the circumstances of that have to be such that it doesn’t open the risk of a No-Deal Brexit.
“And I think all responsible opposition MPs who want to see an election have a duty to make sure that that is the case.”
That comment was echoed by Labour: “Exactly how the extension is made, and how it’s communicated and what the legal status is, will determine whether we consider [No Deal] taken off the table, and the risk of a crash-out there or not,” a spokesman said.
“As soon as the threat of a No-Deal crash-out is off the table, and that is clear and guaranteed, then of course we would support an election.”
Reports suggest the most likely date for a December election this year would be on Thursday December 12, with Parliament being dissolved on November 7.
Scottish Tory MPs are reportedly unhappy about the prospect of another vote.
“I really would have doubts about a December election,” Stephen Kerr, the MP for Stirling, told BBC Radio 4’s World Tonight on Tuesday. “We have tried the patience of people so much this year as a political group at Westminster, to put a General Election into the Christmas month I think would be a push too far.”
It’s understood his colleagues have urged Downing Street against it. One MP told the New Statesman: “It will be dark from 3pm. Are we really going to send young, female activists to canvass in hail on pitch black streets?”
Under the terms of the Benn Act, passed by MPs, Johnson was forced to send a letter to Brussels on Saturday asking for the three-month delay.
During Prime Minister’s Questions, the Tory leader insisted this was not his “request but a request from Parliament”.
The Prime Minister’s official spokesman said Johnson told Tusk that “he continues to believe that there should be no extension and that it is in the interests of both (the EU) and the United Kingdom for us to leave on October 31”.
However, Tusk later tweeted that he would be “recommending the EU27 accept the UK request for an extension.”
Yesterday Irish Taoiseach, Leo Varadkar agreed, though suggested he could back the so-called “flextension” which would allow the UK to leave “before 31 January 2020 if the Withdrawal Agreement has been ratified in advance of that date.”
However, French president, Emmanuel Macron is reportedly unsympathetic, and would reportedly rather a shorter extension of around 15 days to help focus minds.
EU diplomats met yesterday to discuss the delay, but there will be no final decision until Friday at the earliest. If there is no unanimous agreement then EU27 leaders will meet on Monday.
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