Thread by @Staedtler

Jesus Christ, English journalism is shit.
Alright, I'll read Johnson's letter myself.
Is there any fucking point in journalists if we end up having to read all the source documents ourself?

Okay I've got it now.

Johnson thinks Europe will offer January 31st for the extension.
It's possible they offer a shorter one till mid December, and Johnson has a plan for both cases.
If Europe offers December, Johnson wants Corbyn to vote for Johnson's deal.

If Europe offers the extension to January 31st, as everyone thinks, then Johnson wants a general election. And this is the timing:

Parliament will vote for an election to be held on December 12th.
That means parliament would dissolve on November 6th.

But that's not all. Never bloody is with these people.
If Europe offers the extension to January 31st, and Corbyn votes for a general election next week, Johnson will give maximum parliamentary time to pass his Withdrawal Bill before the dissolution of parliament on November 6th.

And I think that's what the problem is.

Johnson can't just have an election. He wants to use the two week period before the dissolution to try and get his Bill through parliament.
And that's a misuse of procedure.

The period between the vote for an election and the dissolution is supposed to be used - like the prorogation - purely for basic administration.
It is not supposed to be used to pass original and complex legislation.

Seriously, if Johnson tries to pass complex legislation during the period between an election vote and the dissolution he's going to find himself in court yet again.

And does he really want to go into a general election as a crook?