Play all audios:
The motion would allow No10 to bypass the Fixed Term Parliament Act (FTPA) and call an election, regardless of whether this evening’s vote is defeated or not. This evening’s House of Commons
vote requires a two-thirds majority to pass, but a one-line motion would only require a simple majority. With SNP and Lib Dem support, the Government could succeed in this second vote,
which will be called for Tuesday’s if today’s vote fails. Tonight's vote is expected to fail with Labour sources indicating Jeremy Corbyn has ordered his MPs to abstain. Tomorrow Mr
Johnson will put forward a one-line motion calling for a general election, requiring just a simple majority. The motion does hold more risks for No10 than the FTPA, however. It is
susceptible to amendments, which could impact the Government’s election plot. Opposition parties could introduce amendments demanding votes for 16-year-olds or EU nationals in the election,
for example, which would reduce the Tories’ chances. A Number 10 source said: "Tonight is Labour's last chance to have an election with Brexit done - they can vote tonight for the
12th and get Brexit done before Parliament is dissolved. "If not, we will introduce a Bill almost identical to the SNP Bill tomorrow and we will have a pre-Christmas election anyway.
"This Parliament has repeatedly failed to respect its promise to respect the referendum. "Millions of families and businesses can't plan because of constant delays. We need a
new Parliament by Christmas so we can Get Brexit Done in January and the country can move on." READ MORE: PEOPLE’S VOTE CHAOS: HOW ROLAND RUDD WAS FORCED TO DENY PESTON LINK European
Council president Donald Tusk announced the decision following a meeting of ambassadors in Brussels. He said: "The EU27 has agreed that it will accept the UK's request for a Brexit
flextension until 31 January 2020. "The decision is expected to be formalised through a written procedure." An EU source said the extension would last "only as long as
necessary to allow for the ratification of the Withdrawal Agreement and, in any event, no longer than January 31 2020". The text will be submitted to the UK for agreement, before a
written procedure is launched to adopt the decision - with the process likely to be concluded on Tuesday or Wednesday. The German government welcomed the European Union's agreement to
delay Brexit until January 31 next year. Government spokesman Steffen Seibert said it was a "good solution". Mr Seibert told reporters in Berlin that it was "very
positive" that the remaining 27 EU countries had shown unity on the issue. He added that "the ball now lies with Great Britain. And it's important to use the additional time
productively".