Brexit: Boris Johnson to call 14 October general election if rebels vote to block no-deal

Boris Johnson will call a general election for 14 October if he loses Tuesday’s Brexit vote in the House of Commons, senior government officials have revealed.

Officials said the prime minister was confident that the election will receive the two-thirds majority in the Commons required to trigger an early poll under the Fixed Term Parliaments Act.

Ministers will table the motion by the end of Tuesday, but it will be moved to a vote on Wednesday only if MPs vote tomorrow to take control of Commons business in order to pass a bill to block a no-deal Brexit on 31 October.