Thread by @DavidHenigUK

So these election rumours, credible I'm sure, but there are some real-world issues. For a start officials aren't really supposed to do any new work during purdah - that could easily define to include no-deal preparation, particularly of issues as yet unresolved

Obviously there should be no real negotiations during an election campaign, so essentially we lose 5-6 weeks of at least pretending. Nothing before mid-October, so it will either be no-deal or alternate PM must beg the EU for an extension.

Government public information must be scaled back during an election campaign, so no get ready for no-deal campaign, as this could affect the result.

Basically if we have an election Brexit is put on hold for the duration. It will be a sign of a totally unserious Government to propose such, and an opposition similar to agree to it, given the immediacy of the challenge of a no-deal Brexit. On this basis it could well happen

Some more thoughts on an early election here - there's a lot of problems with the idea relating to Brexit...

Calling an election without seeking an extension to the date on which we leave the EU would be a dereliction of duty on an epic scale for those proposing it, and a test for the opposition who have to avoid the obvious attraction.

Pause for a second to reflect that after just under six weeks in total, and only one day of Parliamentary time, this Government may be about to decide that the Commons is so unmanageable on Brexit that an election is required.

A week before a no-deal Brexit? Not a tweet to fill anyone with confidence that politicians have yet thought through the implications of an early election

Looks like some MPs are at least aware of some of the problems of an early election

Could election talk may be another of Number 10 cunning plans? Having failed previously to get Labour to table a no-confidence vote, he now threatens potential Conservative rebels with an election if they vote against, hoping to either get an election or win the no-deal vote...

The problem so far has been every time Number 10 has laid a trap neither the Labour leadership or Conservative rebels have fallen for it...

If Number 10 are now saying voting against no-deal is a confidence matter then does that equally mean an alternate Prime Minister could be appointed if they lose? Surely anti no-dealers must be tempted to see if they could agree something now they see the alternative...?

Signs that folk in the opposition understand what the Government is planning (@paulmasonnews recorded outside the Doghouse pub in Kennington if I'm not mistaken)

@paulmasonnews If the Government hadn't rushed through the prorogue decision they wouldn't have then had to keep doubling down towards an election. They may be missing a wise old head who would have told them another couple of weeks of Parliament really wasn't the end of the world

@paulmasonnews An election is a bad idea part 94...

@paulmasonnews Looks like another cunning plan starting to fall... Baldrick Cummings?

@paulmasonnews Backtracking on election in progress...?