Jeremy Corbyn wants election as speculation mounts

Jeremy Corbyn says the UK “needs” a general election. Speaking in Salford, the Labour leader said a vote “would give the people a choice between two very different directions for the country”.

In words that The Guardian says “put his party on election footing,” Corbyn said: “When a government finds itself without a majority the solution is not to undermine democracy. The solution is to let the people decide and call a general election. It is the people, not an unelected prime minister, who should determine our country's future.”

In separate remarks to Sky News, he said: “Of course, we are the opposition party, we want a general election.”

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Earlier, Tony Blair had warned Corbyn that an election may be an “elephant trap”.

Blair, a regular critic of Corbyn, said: “Boris Johnson knows that if no-deal Brexit stands on its own as a proposition, it might well fail.

“But if he mixes up the Brexit question with the Corbyn question in a general election, he could succeed, despite a majority being against a no-deal Brexit, because some may fear a Corbyn premiership more.

“He should see an election before Brexit is decided, for the elephant trap it is.”

Corbyn has shrugged off this warning but as the BBC’s political editor Laura Kuenssberg said: “It would be rather awkward for him not to, when he and senior Labour politicians have been calling for a general election for such a long time.”

Speculation is mounting across Westminster of an imminent announcement of a general election.

After cabinet ministers were summoned for an emergency cabinet meeting on yesterday afternoon and Boris Johnson made a statement outside Number 10 warning MPs that he will not ask the EU for another extension, The Guardian said the prime minister could seek a snap general election “as early as Wednesday”.

The BBC says “live discussions” are underway in Downing Street about asking Parliament to approve a “snap poll” if MPs wanting to block a no-deal Brexit defeat the government this week.

There are two ways an election could be called this week. The prime minister could call a general election if two-thirds of MPs vote for one. If Labour backed the move, this threshold could be met.

A general election could also be ordered if a motion of no confidence was passed and no alternative government was confirmed within 14 days.