Boris Johnson is to push on with his effort to secure a pre-Christmas general election after MPs rejected his third attempt to go to the country.
The Prime Minister failed to get the two-thirds majority he needed to secure an election on December 12 under the Fixed-Term Parliaments Act (FTPA).
However, Mr Johnson said he would now come back with a “short” Bill setting aside the provisions of the FTPA which would require just a simple majority.
He said he would continue to press for a December 12 polling day – even though the Liberal Democrats and the SNP suggested at the weekend they could support a slightly earlier date of December 9.
(PA graphic)
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Following the vote – which saw the Government fall 135 votes short of the 434 needed – Mr Johnson told MPs they had to end the deadlock over Brexit.
The Prime Minister said: “The leader of the Opposition literally and figuratively has run away from the judgment of the people.”
Mr Johnson continued: “But as I said when moving the motion, we will not allow this paralysis to continue, and one way or another we must proceed straight to an election.
“So later on this evening, the Government will give notice of presentation for a short Bill for an election on December 12 so we can finally get Brexit done.”
He added: “This House cannot any longer keep this country hostage.”
Mr Johnson concluded: “Now that no-deal is off the table, we have a great new deal, and it’s time for the voters to have a chance to pronounce on that deal and to replace this dysfunctional Parliament with a new Parliament that can get Brexit done so the country can move on.”
SNP Westminster leader Ian Blackford said the party would support the Prime Minister’s new plan for a December 12 election if he gave a “cast-iron guarantee” he would not bring back the European Union (Withdrawal Agreement) Bill.
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Mr Blackford added: “It is clear that there is a desire on the Opposition benches to bring forward a Bill that can give us an election. But we don’t trust this Prime Minister and we don’t trust this Prime Minister for good reason.
“So the Prime Minister, if he is going to bring forward a Bill, must give an absolute cast-iron assurance that up until the passage of that Bill and the rising of Parliament, that there will be no attempt to bring forward the Withdrawal Agreement Bill.”
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