GE
Will we or won’t we have a General Election this year? The Mirror says:
Boris Johnson tonight announced his latest bid for a general election after he broke his pledge to get Brexit on October 31.
Then Labour MPs were told to block it.
But then Jeremy Corbyn came out and suggested it’s not a final decision after all.
It comes after Christmas Brexit Grinch Mr Johnson announced he wanted a snap poll on December 12 – and MPs would hold a vote on triggering it on Monday.
Yet Mr Corbyn indicated Labour might vote against. He said Labour first needed to take no-deal Brexit off the table – and that, he suggested, means full-blown amendments to the Prime Minister’s Brexit Bill.
The Independent reports that the PM might even pull the vote.
Boris Johnson is considering whether to scrap Monday’s vote to trigger a pre-Christmas general election, after fresh opposition at home and abroad threatened an almost-certain defeat.
The latest Brexit impasse means the UK will come within as little as 48 hours of crashing out of the EU on Halloween before the issue of an Article 50 extension is settled – with Emmanuel Macron still holding out.
Meanwhile, at Westminster, MPs are weighing up an extraordinary plan to bring the prime minister’s “paused” Brexit deal themselves, after he refused to do so.
Even with MPs poised to deny him his election, the prime minister taunted Jeremy Corbyn to “man up” and go to the polls on 12 December.
The Express has a theory on why Corbyn won’t agree.
JEREMY CORBYN is terrified of a general election because he risks losing out on his all-important student vote due to the time of year Boris Johnson has set the date for the crunch ballot.
The veteran left-winger scooped an eye-watering amount of votes from students after he promised – and the backtracked – on scrapping university fees when then-Prime Minister Theresa May held a snap election in 2017.
But now, the December date Tory leader Mr Johnson has set is at a time universities end their terms, which is a major threat for Labour because many MPs are based in university towns. When asked why he has refused to take part in a general election four times in the last month despite demanding one in the same rhetoric for the past two years, Mr Corbyn said “It’s after many universities end their terms for Christmas.”
EU
Meanwhile, across the Channel, EU leaders are threatening. The Times says:
France is ready to force Britain to the brink of a no-deal Brexit unless Labour and the House of Commons agree to a general election or ratify Boris Johnson’s Brexit deal on Monday.
President Macron yesterday moved again to block a three-month extension, forcing the EU to begin preparations for an emergency summit on October 30.
A source close to the French president warned that any delay to Brexit beyond Thursday was “not a given” unless there was new political movement in Westminster to justify it.
The Mail thinks we’ll have only a short delay.
French president Emmanuel Macron is leading a group of EU rebels who want a Brexit extension of as little as 15 days after Boris Johnson was forced by MPs to hand control to Brussels.
EU leaders are discussing today whether to grant Britain a short or long extension – with a decision expected tomorrow.
Belgium, Luxembourg and Spain are said to back Mr Macron – with the Netherlands also reportedly drifting towards this position.
Germany and Ireland however, are among the countries that are more relaxed about the idea of a three-month delay proposed by European Council president Donald Tusk.
And the Independent says they won’t make a decision until next week.
EU ambassadors failed to reach agreement on a further Brexit extension at a meeting on Friday morning, postponing their decision in a move that could have a bearing on whether Boris Johnson gets his pre-Christmas general election.
The prime minister challenged MPs to back his call for a December 12 vote in return for more time to scrutinise his Brexit deal. Mr Johnson will need Labour votes if he is to win the two-thirds of MPs required to get an election under the Fixed-Term Parliaments Act (FTPA).
Jeremy Corbyn said he would only agree to an election once Mr Johnson takes a no-deal Brexit “off the table” – and suggested the PM could do that within “a couple of days”.
The Guardian concurs.
The EU will delay its decision on the length of the Brexit extension until next Monday or Tuesday after France piled pressure on MPs ahead of a vote on Boris Johnson’s demand for a pre-Christmas general election.
During a meeting of EU diplomats, the French ambassador stood alone in arguing that it was not the right time to agree a three-month delay, in a move that will be welcomed in Downing Street.
Only after the vote on Monday should the EU decide to “go short, to push for ratification, or long to accommodate a general election”, the ambassador told the other member states, according to a diplomatic note.
But the Express says the delay, caused by the French president, is angering other leaders.
FRANCE’S Emmanuel Macron has infuriated other EU leaders by refusing to agree to a Brexit delay.
It comes after SNP party leader Nicola Sturgeon and Westminster leader Ian Blackford reportedly pleaded with Mr Corbyn to back a snap vote after Prime Minister Boris Johnson threw down the gauntlet for an election on December 12. Mr Johnson challenged MPs to back his call for a December election in return for more time to scrutinise his Brexit deal. The Prime Minister has offered parliamentarians until November 6 to debate and vote on his Withdrawal Agreement Bill.
Sky News has also spoken to EU bosses.
A senior EU official has told Sky News the bloc is “very unlikely” to decide on an extension to Brexit negotiations before Tuesday.
EU leaders are deciding whether to opt for an extension until January or a shorter November delay – thought to be favoured by French President Emmanuel Macron.
It was thought they would decide by Tuesday – two days before the latest official leaving date – but this is now looking unlikely, meaning Boris Johnson will be unable to fulfil his promise of leaving on 31 October “do or die”.
And BBC News says they’re still negotiating.
EU ambassadors have agreed to delay Brexit, but will not make a decision on a new deadline date until next week.
The European Commission said work on this would “continue in the coming days”.
The talks came after Chancellor Sajid Javid admitted the government’s deadline to deliver Brexit next Thursday “can’t be met”.
Brexit
Elsewhere on the Brexit front, the Guardian reports the possibility that rebels will again grab the Parliamentary agenda.
Rebel MPs are exploring ways to seize control of the agenda from Boris Johnson by allowing parliament to debate and vote on Brexit legislation and a second referendum possibly as soon as next week.
Several MPs told the Guardian this was a plan under consideration if Johnson persisted with his insistence that his withdrawal agreement bill was “paused” until MPs agree to an election on 12 December.
Under the plans, which have been worked on since the summer by supporters of a second referendum and soft Brexit, MPs would again try to use procedure under standing order 24 to take control of the timetable in parliament.
They would then attempt to introduce either Johnson’s Brexit deal or Theresa May’s withdrawal agreement, with possible votes on adding a customs union, second referendum and extending transition to prevent departure on World Trade Organization terms.
The Mail also reports the plot.
Rebel alliance MPs are plotting to try and force a vote on a second referendum or customs union as early as next week rather than giving in to Boris Johnson‘s election demands, it has emerged.
Remainer politicians are plotting to take control of parliament’s timetable again in a similar tactic to that used to force the PM to ask for a Brexit delay with the Benn act.
The move comes after Johnson urged Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn to ‘man up’ and back his plans for a pre-Christmas general election, as the Brexit process was effectively put on hold while the Labour leader makes up his mind whether to back a snap election.
However, if the deadlock remains, Remainer politicians including Labour’s Peter Kyle have discussed plans to bring back the PM’s Brexit deal but hold votes to attach a second referendum or a customs union.
We could be still waiting next year, reports the Express.
BREXIT could be delayed until spring if Jeremy Corbyn refuses to back a general election, Downing Street sources have revealed.
Brussels is expected to set a new exit date of January 31 for our departure from the EU. But Parliamentary timetabling means at least one more extension will be needed if Labour rejects a national poll on Monday. A Government source said: “The reality is if they don’t vote for an election next week, you are already moving into a cycle of talking about the next extension, which is pretty extraordinary.
“If they don’t vote for an election next week, MPs are not going to be forcing one extension, they are going to be forcing two minimum.”
DUP
It looks like the Northern Irish will not back the PM, says BBC News.
DUP leader Arlene Foster will reaffirm her party’s opposition to Boris Johnson’s Brexit deal when she addresses her annual conference later.
The party has said it will not support the arrangements for Northern Ireland negotiated by the prime minister as it “creates a border in the Irish Sea”.It has argued the deal would damage the local economy and undermine the union.
The DUP has said it will wait until Monday before giving its response to Mr Johnson’s call for a general election.
The prime minister wants Westminster parties to agree to an election on 12 December.
Conservative Party
And we could be facing civil unrest, reports the Telegraph.
Remain-backing Tory MPs have warned the Chief Whip that the government’s Brexit plans will lead to “terrorist activity” on the streets of the UK.
“At least 20” Tory MPs led by former deputy prime ministers David Lidington and Damian Green have also threatened to vote against Boris Johnson’s push for a December 12 general election.
On Thursday a group of 41 “One Nation” Tory MPs met the deputy Chief Whip, Amanda Milling, to say they did not want an early election.
In a meeting which lasted about an hour, half of the MPs present made explicit threats that they do not want an election this year.
Labour Party
Corbyn says he’ll only agree to an election if Boris promises to scrap ‘no-deal’ completely, says the Sun.
JEREMY Corbyn has admitted he will sink a Christmas election on Monday unless Boris Johnson vows to NEVER let Britain leave the EU without a deal.
The leftie leader has caused a bitter stand off as he refuses yet again to back the PM’s call to go back to the polls and let the British people decide Brexit.
The leftie boss appeared to be running scared yet again, saying his party would only vote for an election if the PM promises not to ever exit the EU without a deal.
The Independent says Boris’ gamble has failed.
Boris Johnson’s gamble on an early election looks set to flop, after opposition parties signalled they will block a poll so long as a no-deal Brexit remains possible.
The prime minister dramatically issued a demand for a 12 December election after abandoning his “do-or-die” pledge to take the UK out of the European Union by Halloween.
Mr Johnson offered to allow MPs extra time to debate and ratify his Brexit deal by 6 November if they approved the UK’s first December election in almost 100 years. But aides said he would pull the Withdrawal Agreement Bill altogether if they refuse.
The Telegraph reports on the instructions Corbyn has given his MPs.
Jeremy Corbyn has left the door open to a Brexit delay beyond Jan 31, as his allies last night warned that Labour would block an election until no deal was ruled out by law.
The Labour leader signalled he will order his MPs to vote down Boris Johnson’s request next week for a poll on 12 December, describing the proposal as “really odd so near Christmas”.
While he refused to rule out backing the motion, he claimed that Labour’s support would be conditional on the Prime Minister providing safeguards against no deal to his “satisfaction”.
The Mail says Labour are in chaos.
Labour were in chaos last night as MPs were whipped to abstain in Boris Johnson‘s election vote while Jeremy Corbyn said he would back it if No Deal was ‘off the table.’
Mr Johnson laid down the gauntlet earlier on Thursday, saying he would ask MPs for a December 12 general election on Monday.
Labour MPs are understood to have tonight been whipped to abstain, but just moments later Mr Corbyn gave an interview saying: ‘Take no-deal off the table and we absolutely support a general election.’
The Labour Party is backing a strike, reports the Mail.
A trade union, backed by Jeremy Corbyn, is attempting to get McDonald’s workers to go on strike next month to demand higher wages than police officers.
Bakers Union announced the ‘McStrike’ for November 12 with demands including £15 an hour pay – double what most worker’s currently earn and £3.70 more than the average starting salary for officers and double that of nurses.
The majority of McDonald’s staff are paid around £8 per hour with the lowest rate at £6 – £1.25 more than the national living wage.
The strike is backed by a trade union, reports the Sun.
A JEREMY Corbyn-backed trade union is trying to get McDonald’s workers to go on strike next month – to demand higher wages than police and nurses.
The hard-left Bakers Union announced a ‘McStrike’ for November 12 with a list of demands for McDonald’s 130,000 workers.
It is calling for £15 an hour pay – nearly double what most McDonald’s workers currently earn. It would mean McDonald’s workers getting paid £3.70 more per hour than the average starting salary for police officers. And it would put their pay on nearly double the starting salary for nurses. Most McDonald’s staff currently get paid around £8 per hour.
The lowest rate the fast-food restaurant pays staff is £6 per hour – £1.25 an hour more than the national living wage. The company said it pays many of its staff £10 per hour.
Bercow
Despite the Speaker’s promise to the contrary, he’s started ‘milking’ his position, says the Telegraph.
John Bercow has started making thousands of pounds from speeches about his role in Parliament just weeks after insisting that he would not “milk” his position as Speaker.
Leading former Tory ministers Amber Rudd and Sir Oliver Letwin who thwarted Boris Johnson’s plans to take the UK out of the European Union next week are also raking in thousands of pounds on the speaking circuit.
Mr Bercow disclosed in a Parliamentary filing that he has started accepting thousands to “discuss my role as Speaker and the work of Parliament.”
The Express reports on his earnings.
JOHN BERCOW received more than £5,000 last month speaking to audiences in Amsterdam, Boston, New York and Zurich.
Former Tory cabinet members Sir Oliver Letwin and Amber Rudd were each paid £10,000 for a speech by Bank of America Merrill Lynch at Somerset House in London on October 3 according to The Daily Telegraph. This is despite the outgoing Speaker telling an Edinburgh fringe event he did not wish to “milk it” just two months ago.
In August, Mr Bercow said: “I tend to take the view that the biggest disincentive to vulgar and improper behaviour is the public disapproving of people behaving in a way that is thought to be vulgar, improper or bordering on a tendency to milk.
Health
People are having heart attacks but don’t know it, reports the Times.
About a third of heart attacks are “silent”, with tens of thousands of Britons mistaking them for minor problems such as indigestion or toothache, doctors have said.
More than 100,000 hospital admissions each year are for heart attacks but many thousands more pass by unnoticed because their symptoms can be confused for other common ailments.
Doctors using electrocardiograms (ECGs) or echo scanning can assess whether someone might have suffered a silent heart attack. They often find that a person suffered an attack weeks or even years earlier without realising.
Those at higher risk of heart disease, such as overweight people and smokers, should always seek medical advice for chest pain, doctors said.
And a hospital food company has failed to provide good food says the Times.
The Whole Lotta Good range promised a tasty, nutritious sandwich that was “truly handmade” with organic ingredients. “We vow to banish tasteless, soggy and quite frankly sorry sandwiches,” the Good Food Chain website boasted.
For patients’ convenience sandwiches were cut into quarters and NHS bosses were assured that they were “incredible value for money”.
The business, which had an £8 million turnover and supplied 43 NHS trusts, collapsed in June after being linked to the listeria outbreak that claimed the lives of six patients.
An internal review, seen by a whistleblower who has spoken to The Times, shows a different side of the business. Instead of the creative “sandwich boffins” detailed on the website, what emerges is a factory working flat out.
Cheese
And to cap it all, the Telegraph reports that our cheese has been voted better than French fromage.
A British Cheddar and an American blue cheese have surpassed French cheeses to take top awards at a prestigious international competition, prompting an outraged French newspaper to describe the results as “sacrilege”.
This year’s World Cheese Awards, held in Bergamo, Italy, have left a sour aftertaste in France, which considers itself the home of fine cheeses.
Rogue River Blue, produced in Oregon in the United States, was judged the world’s best cheese by a panel of 260 international experts this week. In fourth place was Pitchfork Cheddar, made by Trethowan’s Dairy, based in Somerset.
The French cheese that fared best in the contest was an Epoisses, a pungent soft cow’s milk cheese from Burgundy, which took joint 8th place with a Swiss Gruyère.
Could we bribe the French – offer to pay them the money we save by crashing out 31/10 instead of continuing to finance the failing EU. Better not offer to explain how to make good cheese. Perhaps offer NOT to export any to the EU.
‘Macron is leading a group of EU rebels’
Now that is something I have not heard anything of, at all.
Yellow vest man Nappyleon rattling chains for domestic reasons yes. The rest nothing.
Are there countries out there who agree with us and want to help us to get out?
Has anyone been knocking on doors looking for support?
Absolutely no coverage anywhere of ‘the other side’ in this. Total silence and no leaks?
Yes, the headmaster says do your homework again (and again); student Quislings are reported meeting with the Masters in yourope; but not a word of dissent reported from the dozens of other, once sovereign, countries.
And the answer is?
GE:
“JEREMY CORBYN is terrified of a general election because he risks losing out on his all-important student vote”
Maybe it is time to restrict the vote to exclude students until such time they are in employment in the real world…
The same should apply to 16 and 17 year-olds, should they be given the vote. In fact, I’d apply tuition fees from that time. As you say, Jack, get them out into the real world.