Thread by @jonlis1

Labour has every right to want an election. We need an election. Given our politics is collapsing, we will absolutely have one.

But please, please, if Johnson calls one this Thursday, do not vote for it. We can’t go to polls on Oct 17 with no-deal hanging over us 2 weeks later.

Johnson will be under immense pressure to commit to no-deal. He can’t negotiate a new deal during election campaign, and anyway, EU wouldn’t cave into him even if he could. No-deal platform also eliminates Brexit Party threat. He might well lose - but the risk is far too high.

Now is the time for the Opposition to take control. First make sure a plan is in place to force an extension request, and have a back-up in case EU declines or Johnson refuses their offer. Put it in law. Then hold election. Don’t allow Johnson to dictate this on his own terms.

Diabetics, cancer patients, people with epilepsy and numerous other chronic conditions are genuinely terrified about no-deal. We cannot go into an election telling them that they have to vote a certain way in order to guarantee their survival.

Some things are more important than winning power. Parliament has the ability to stop no-deal & put minds at rest right now. MPs cannot sanction a game of Russian roulette with a government of sociopaths in the hope they still have numbers to stop it a few days before it happens.