The EU has decided to grant the UK's request for an extension until 31 January.
This will be a "flextension",
i.e. if the WA is approved by the UK and EU Parliaments before that date, then we will leave earlier.
and .... despite all his blustering promises, the weasel BJ lives on,
preening his whiskers in self-love.
The more gullible Brexiters haven't yet twigged that he lies and lies.
And lies....
Meanwhile, another attempt by the UK to decide what to do:
From 2:30 pm today, MPs will debate whether to allow a GE on 12 December
This is a govt motion under the FTPA, which means BJ requires the votes of ⅔ of all MPs - that's 434
Hence he would need Labour support.
BJ's condition for a GE on this date is that MPs agree to pass the WA / WAB by 7 November,
which is the last day before Parliament would be automatically dissolved before the GE.
Corbyn said he'll only agree to a GE if BJ takes No Deal off the table.
This cannot be made legally binding, but as noone would take the word of a lying weasel, it is difficult for this condition to be satisfied.
Polls suggest that a GE after Brexit would be likely to give the Tories significantly more votes & seats than a GE before.
Both Labour & Tory want to game GE timing to their advantage.
Also, most Labour MPs are opposed to a GE after Brexit, for fear of losing the votes of millions of angry Labour Remainers - and their own seats.
A few on the Labour left do want a GE asap,
but Nick Brown, Labour’s chief whip, has warned Corbyn that many MPs would disobey orders to vote for 12 December.
Hence, BJ is expected to lose yet another HoC vote.
If so, reports suggest that the Cabinet are split over what to do next:
Some ministers, e.g. Gavin Williamson, want to agree to the SNP / LDem proposal to hold a GE on 9 December.
This would be via an amendment to the FTPA or a separate 1-line Act
and hence would require only a simple majority of MPs present
It would also be the last chance logistically for a GE before mid-February.
BUT
would require BJ to abandon attempts to pass the WAB before this.
Also, such a bill would be amendable and Tories fear the type of amendments could be added
e.g. a CU, or votes for 16-year-olds.
Hence other ministers and the Tory chairman James Cleverley oppose this idea.
It is unknown how BJ will decide.
His record is of aggressive bluster, then caving in at the last moment, while pretending he has won.
The EU have saved our bacon yet again, but may be running out of eye rolls "Please don't waste this time"