Thread by @jonworth

Broadly speaking the parties have the following approaches to a General Election

CONSERVATIVES
Want it as soon as possible, and ideally 15 Oct

OPPOSITION PARTIES
Want it after 31 October

The problem for the opposition parties is if the election is called Monday 9 Sept, a 15 Oct General Election is what you get

Delay calling a General Election until after prorogation has ended on 14 Oct means opposition parties are branded cowards, chickens etc. until then

How do you square this?

This cunning plan from Simon Banfield might just be the solution

https://twitter.com/SimonABanfield/status/1169603841391759361

FIRST, make sure the Benn Bill against No Deal is passed on Monday 9 Sept

SECOND, Corbyn immediately tables a General Election

THIRD, opposition parties then sit it out and run down the 14 days foreseen in Fixed-term Parliaments Act

The result?

You end up with an election on 29 October - close enough to 31 Oct to mean No Deal could then not be stopped by the Commons, and extension would have to happen

I outline why all this works, and also some reasons why it would be worth trying even were it to fail, in a detailed blog post that builds on Simon's idea:
jonworth.eu/how-opposition…

Would welcome views from @davidallengreen @carlgardner @JolyonMaugham @fascinatorfun @cath_haddon @Brigid_Fowler @justinbates28 on this!

Oh and if it does work, then do tell your Labour, Lib Dem, SNP, Plaid Cymru, Green friends!

/ends