Boris Johnson’s offer of an election tied to his Brexit deal is an attempt to break the chains of months of parliamentary deadlock.
He has offered a two-pronged plan, coupling more time to hammer out a Brexit deal with an agreement to hold a general election before Christmas.
Coupled with it is a tacit threat – that the Government will effectively go on strike if it does not get its way.
Here is how the land lies in Westminster tonight.
How does Boris call an election and when will it be?
Under the proposal outlined by the Prime Minister he would table a motion under the Fixed Term Parliament Act (FTPA) on Monday, triggering a vote for a general election to be held on December 12.
By then he will know how long a Brexit delay the EU has agrees to hand down to the UK, with No 10 understood to be privately resigned to it being the full three months he asked for last weekend.
If Jeremy Corbyn agrees to give Labour backing to the FTPA vote Parliament would be dissolved on November 7.
Boris Johnson has offered a two-pronged plan, coupling more time to hammer out a Brexit deal with an agreement to hold a general election before Christmas.
What is the PM proposing?
Between now and November 6 MPs and peers would get a little over a week to debate and vote on the Withdrawal Agreement Bill (Wab), with the aim of getting it done before Parliament rises.
The bill made it past its second reading – a key stage of its passage through Parliament – on Tuesday. But MPs them rejected a plan to force it through the Commons in three days this week, demanding more time for scrutiny and debate.
The Government then shelved it.
No 10 said today it would be prepared pull out all the stops to give MPs time before November 6 – including early starts and late sittings, even recalling Parliament to sit this coming weekend – if they approved an election.
Will Labour back it?
It is not clear if Labour will back it, and even if Jeremy Corbyn agrees he could face a rebellion from pro-Remain backbenchers.
Mr Corbyn and senior figures are said to be keen – grassroots group Momentum has said ‘bring it on’.
But many MPs are said to fear a drubbing by voters after months of Brexit dithering.
So even if he whips them to support the Government there is no guarantee it will pass.
Mr Corbyn said tonight he will only back Boris Johnson’s offer of a general election when a no-deal Brexit is ‘off the table’.
In an interview, the Labour leader appeared to keep his powder dry, saying: ‘Take no-deal off the table and we absolutely support a general election.
‘I’ve been calling for an election ever since the last one because this country needs one to deal with all the social injustice issues – but no-deal must be taken off the table.’
This leaves open the possibility he could support an election if the delay to Brexit is long enough.
Reports suggest that Labour could abstain in Monday’s vote, meaning Mr Corbyn could avoid the embarrassment of a major rebellion.
What will happen if they don’t back the plan?
If Labour rejects Boris Johnson’s election plan, chaos again reigns.
The twin parts of the PM’s deal are reliant on each other.
No 10 has been very clear that if Labour does not vote for the election on Monday there will be no extra time for the Wab, it will be pulled again, they ‘must agree to an election first’.
That leaves Parliament, and the nation, in deadlock as it is now.
Mr Johnson will again have had his path to a deal or an election cut off by Parliament.
He would have little option but to perform the parliamentary equivalent of throwing a tantrum and taking his toys home.
He could go on a political ‘strike’ refusing to table legislation. But given how little has been done in past months because of the Brexit gridlock, critics might suggest that few people will notice.
Mr Corbyn said tonight he will only back Boris Johnson’s offer of a general election when a no-deal Brexit is ‘off the table’. But he left open the chance that he could back a vote once the EU decides on a Brexit delay
Can Boris Johnson force an election in any other way? What about a vote of no confidence?
Under the terms of the FTPA he needs a super-majority – 434 MPs – to support him to force an election. So without Labour backing that route is blocked.
He could invite the opposition to push for a vote of no confidence in his leadership.
If that passes it gives the opposition 14 days in which to form a rival administration, otherwise a general election is automatically triggered. But Labour seem unlikely to fall into that trap.
Proposals for a government of national unity (GNU) that could push through a Brexit delay made up of opposition MPs collapsed last month.
Labour insisted Mr Corbyn would have to be made interim prime minister but the Lib Dems refused to support him.
In any case given that the GNU was set up to request a Brexit delay, and that has been requested already, it would serve no purpose.
How long has the EU said it will delay Brexit?
Boris is expected by Monday at the latest to have been handed his humiliating Brexit extension.
Some leaders, led by France’s Emmanuel Macron, have been pushing for a short extension to focus MPs minds on passing the Wab, perhaps of 15 days.
But after discussions between the PM, Germany’s Angela Merkel and European Council president Donald Tusk this week No 10 is understood to be resigned to a three-month extension, which can be cut short if a deal is approved.
EU leaders could reveal the length of the extension tomorrow if there is agreement on a date. If there is division a special summit, most likely on Monday, could be announced tomorrow.
The announcement could come via Twitter, after a letter is send to Downing Street from Brussels.
Can MPs/Boris get Brexit done sooner?
It would require the opposition parties to all completely reverse their rhetoric and voting positions to allow the Wab to be passed in a matter of days with minimal scrutiny. So it seems very, very unlikely.
As mentioned above, No 10 appears resigned to a long extension to Brexit.
Does this mean there could be No Deal on January 31 – or before?
The only way this could realistically happen is if the EU offers the UK a Brextension of three months or less and then says it is the last that will be offered.
But despite some murmurings of discontent from Mr Macron Brussels has been consistent that a No Deal Brexit will not happen because of its actions, suggesting they will grnt further delays if required.
It depends if there is a limit to the patience of other EU leaders that can force a change in that position.
Could there be a second referendum?
Boris Johnson has consistently ruled one out, and Jeremy Corbyn has resisted pressure to demand one before a general election. So the prospect of a referendum in the near future appears slim.