It looks like Johnson is getting ready to call an election

[StealthPolarBear]

So why might that be? (genuine question, struggling to follow all this stuff)
Is he anticipating a huge win, giving him a mandate for what he does next? A bit like May in 2017?

To my mind, it's so he can capitalise on the 'honeymoon period' - all the promises he's made of more money here and there, plus his no nonsense stand on Brexit (which will appeal to many Leavers), and at this point he has the best chance of getting a Tory majority larger than the current 1 MP he has. And possibly ditch the DUP as they won't be needed to prop up the govt. Then they'll have a further 5 years in office and he will carrying on being PM. Plus he can potentially weed out those Tories who aren't on the same page as him.

Yep. And he’ll get it. Grim times.

Because he thinks he will win.

There is a thread in Active called 'which do you fear more, Brexit or Corbyn'

What would be even worse is post-Brexit and Corbyn

It would stick a number of awkward issues into purdah, and give them an opportunity to talk about other policies. And Johnson is a good campaigner- seems more at home with that than ally appearances as PM.

Oh is he? I’ve missed that. What makes you think that?
Gawd.

This country needs a Labour government led by Jeremy Corbyn to start to undo the damage caused by years of enforced austerity, and turn us away from.the current divisive culture of xenophobia and racism

And to save the NHS, nationalise public transport, invest in education

Jesus - what have we come to when the choice is between Johnson and Corbyn 😱

I had what was basically an election leaflet from my Tory MP last week. I’ve heard he has spent the summer preparing for an autumn election and the Lid Dems have started canvassing twice a week so election battle very much started here.

turn us away from.the current divisive culture of xenophobia and racism

Unless you’re Jewish of course.

I hate Boris with all my heart, and I would do pretty much anything to stop Brexit, but the idea of having to vote for Corbyn makes me feel a bit sick.

Corbyn needs to step down to give labour a fighting chance. I have no idea who should replace him though.

An early election means that there won't be an alternative to Corbyn in place in time.

Can someone remind me of the rules? Because I thought Labour has a caretaker leader (the deputy at time of party leader leaving post) until elected candidateis endorsed by Conference.

It's 21 - 26 Ssptember this year, and I don't think it can be done in time now, so it's going to be Corbyn until at least late spring.

I note no party is offering to cancel its conference - when parliament does not sit - in return for shortening the prorogation.

If there’s a GE it won’t be until after Brexit though. Probably early next year.

I'm with you on this @LizzieSiddal .
I am facing the horrible choice of No Deal Brexit or scumbag Corbyn in my constituency if there is an election - strong Leave area, sitting Labour MP (actually a decent non-Corbynite who voted Remain but wants an orderly Brexit- as I am also prepared to accept). I swore I wouldn't vote Labour any more while Corbyn is leader. But I fear that there are too many No Deal groupies in my area and they might cause an electoral upset.

I hate Boris with all my heart, and I would do pretty much anything to stop Brexit, but the idea of having to vote for Corbyn makes me feel a bit sick.

Same here. It’s the team around him too, just as extreme and ruthless as Johnson’s lot.

I’m referring to Corbyn’s advisors in my last post, not his MPs.

If he does and Corbyn stepped down Labour would probably walk it, as he won't then Boris is probably wise to call an election.

Not true I think Nocauserebel. It’s thought BoJo may call a GE this week.

Which he will probably win as he is ahead in the polls.

He’d need to get Parliament to vote for a GE, and that’s by no means a certainty.

There is no way there will be a GE before Hallowe'en.

The minimum notice (to announce candidacy and then the required campaign time) is 6 weeks. That takes us to mid-October.

But a PM can't just call an election now there needs to be a vote in Parliament consenting to it. That adds nearly a week (doesn't resume unto 5/09, and I doubt it can happen all on one day)

And is it in anyone's interests to suspend all parliamentary business (not even have the time at the edge of prorogation) and impinge on the the conference season, and then have a brand new government just a week or so before B-day?

I can't see it happening now before Brexit.

At one point I did wonder if that would be the Torys get out of jail card. Call a GE, with the promise that vote for us we'll continue with Brexit, and labour no doubt would take the opposite stance.

Yes, I agree. He wants a majority so is doing anything he can at the moment to win over people who might vote for the Brexit Party. I suspect the idea is that the Conservative Party win an election majority then, without the need to appeal to Brexit Party voters any longer, they can push through a last minute "deal" with the EU (which will be the same as May's deal with a different name for the backstop). He doesn't want a no-deal exit. He needs the Parliamentary majority so he can start pushing the agenda he really wants.

With the FTPA he needs to get the agreement of Labour. They need to hold their nerve and not go for it. Corbyn needs to stand down (surely he must see the polls) and Labour need to find an electable leader. I don't know how it will pan out regarding the Brexit deadline. We really need another extension for the Labour party to sort itself out, but I can't see Johnson asking for one.

I don't understand the Corbyn hate.

And TBH I don't think I have ever seen anyone on here come up with a substantial reason why he is such a baddie.

Corbyn has been trashed and smeared by the press. And it seems that a lot of people believe what they read. The Tories probably will walk an election and anti Corbyn propaganda will play a large part in that.

He's been made out to be some sort of bogey man and people swallow it and will vote for Boris Johnson instead. Unbelievable!

I live in France and here Corbyn would be considered slightly left of centre and very sensible with his ideas of nationalized transport, etc. Just saying.

Pretty much agree beachcomber. Especially with the latter bit. That's at the heart of all our problems with the EU of course - Britain's culture just does not line up with a sensible, structured, organised state that largely ditched its class system centuries ago.