Senior Labour figure tells me: don’t assume this election is definitely on. Big push by some Labour whips for party to vote against programme motion, hoping that Boris Johnson would pull the bill at that point
So it could be shades of last week and PM’s #brexit legislation if scenario sketched out by senior Labour figure comes to pass. Bill would secure its second reading and then come to a standstill if programme motion is voted down
There is an almighty battle going on in the Parliamentary Labour Party with many MPs opposed to December election. ‘Fingers crossed,’ one Labour MP tells me after learning of hopes that programme motion might be voted down
The senior Labour figure tells me battle in Labour party is mirror image of battle in Conservative party: small group around Jeremy Corbyn pushing for election against opposition of many Labour MPs. In No 10, Dominic Cummings pushing for election while many Tory MPs sceptical
The problem for Labour MPs trying to block the election is the clarity with which Jeremy Corbyn endorsed a December election in his interview with my colleague Iain Watson in front of the shadow cabinet
@iainjwatson @jeremycorbyn
@iainjwatson @jeremycorbyn
