Brexit: Parliament votes to reject Boris Johnson's general election bid - as it happened

Good morning: get ready for a busy day

Hello and welcome back to the FT's Brexit live blog. There's lots of news expected today on both sides of the Channel.

In Brussels, EU leaders are expected to agree a flexible extension to the UK's Brexit date from October 31 to the end of January. The breakthrough comes as France has dropped its objection to such a lengthy delay after President Emmanuel Macron and Boris Johnson, the UK prime minister, spoke by phone at the weekend.

French officials predicted there would "very probably" be an agreement on Monday, the FT's Brussels team reported on Sunday.

On the UK front, MPs will debate Boris Johnson's motion to trigger an election on December 12 beginning at 3.30pm London time. Debate is scheduled for 90 minutes, meaning a vote could take place as soon as 5pm.

Mr Johnson is using the 2011 Fixed-Term Parliaments Act in his bid to call elections. That piece of legislation will require him to garner support from two-thirds of the House of Commons, or 434 MPs, meaning Labour will have to get on-board. Currently, that looks unlikely, although it could be subject to change if Brussels agrees to a 'flextension' on the Brexit date.

A one-page bill drawn up by the Liberal Democrats, seeking an election on December 9, appears more likely to succeed. This would only require a simple majority and it appears Mr Johnson could back that measure.

Stick around here for all the updates.

What's coming up? Today's docket

Here's a look at the House of Commons order paper for today. The key item is Boris Johnson's move to trigger elections on December 12. Debate is expected to begin at 3.30pm London time, meaning a vote could be as early as 5pm. Notably, though, urgent questions could push this timetable back.

The pound edged upwards early on Monday morning as traders braced themselves for a further Brexit extension being granted by the EU.

Sterling was up 0.3 per cent against the dollar at $1.2854 and added 0.1 per cent against the euro to €1.1584 .

The UK currency has been boosted this month as fears of a no-deal Brexit have evaporated, rising 4.6 per cent against the dollar and putting it on track for its best month since January 2018.

"The effective elimination of the tail risk associated with a no-deal Brexit has lifted sterling and other European currencies, although the upside seems more limited in the near term, in our view," said analysts at Barclays.

"The uncertainty associated with an (eventual) General Election is likely to weigh on the pound though it appears likely that the PM has the necessary momentum to pass the withdrawal agreement bill, even if the EU grants an A50-extension."

Underlining the receding fears of the UK crashing out, speculators in the futures market reduced their bets that the pound will fall by $1.6bn to $4.2bn in the week to last Tuesday, according to Goldman Sachs calculations based on CFTC data. The futures market represents a small sliver over the vast foreign exchange market - but investors see it as a useful proxy of sentiment.

"Overall, the flows were consistent with the reduction in risk of a no deal Brexit outcome, given that net flows into euro and sterling were both large and positive, while net flows into yen were negative," noted analysts at Goldman Sachs.

The level of vitriol targeted at MPs in messages posted on social media site Twitter rose sharply during and after a heated parliamentary debate in which Boris Johnson was accused of using "inflammatory" language the day after his historic Supreme Court defeat.

According to an analysis by the Financial Times of more than 2m tweets surrounding the debate, during which the British prime minister described death threats against politicians as "humbug", there was a direct correlation between the language used in parliament and the volume of "toxic" tweets from both sides of the Brexit divide.

The most abusive were those that mentioned the Brexit party or other hard Brexit-related terms in their user description. The FT's research backs up the warning on Sunday by Justin Welby, the Archbishop of Canterbury, that Mr Johnson's "inflammatory language" risks "pouring petrol" on Britain's Brexit divisions.

Meeting of EU leaders on Brexit kicks off The FT's Mehreen Khan reports:

EU27 ambassadors have just begun a meeting in Brussels this morning where they are set to sign off on a Brexit extension to January 31. As the FT reported last night, France looks to have relented to its opposition to three-month prolongation of the Article 50 negotiations after a phone call between Emmanuel Macron and Boris Johnson over the week.

EU officials expect the extension will be approved in a closed-doors meeting and completed by a "written procedure".

EU leaders agree to flexible extension of Brexit date to January 2020

The EU27 has agreed to an extension request to the end of January 31, Mehreen Khan reports from Brussels.

All that's left now is for EU27 capitals to officially sign off on the legal formalities of the extension, which is expected to be done within a couple of days.

Ambassadors agreed to the extension at a meeting lasting just under 20 minutes this morning. The crucial breakthrough happened over the weekend when France relented in its opposition.

The "flextension" means that, should the UK's divorce deal make it through ratification in the UK parliament and the EU parliament before January 30, Brexit could happen on December 1 or January 1.

One EU ambassador told the Financial Times there was "little" discussion about the terms of the flextension at a brief meeting this morning. The issue of the UK needing to nominate a commissioner (which is mentioned in the draft text) did not come up.

In Brussels, all eyes will turn to the House of Commons this afternoon where Boris Johnson is planning to table a motion to trigger a general election.

Now that Brussels has agreed to an extension, all eyes turn to Westminster where Jo Swinson, leader of the Liberal Democrats, earlier today said she is waiting for a response from the prime minister on a one-page draft bill that sets an election date on December 9.

When asked if Boris Johnson were to put it forward as a government bill, would there be support from the Lib Dems and Scottish National party, Ms Swinson said: "Absolutely."

"It is a simple bill, about calling an election, giving people confidence that that date will not be changed or mucked about with," Ms Swinson said on Radio 4's flagship Today programme.

"It ties the prime minister's hands about the date of the election, it sets it in law so that it doesn't give him the wriggle room that his plan would have whereby he can say it's 12 December and then decide it's actually going to be 1 February."

Having an election on December 9 would be three days further away from Christmas, said Ms Swinson, and would help retailers since it would be easier to avoid any interference with shopping in the run-up to Christmas. It would also make it easier to vote for those who like students are on the move.

Downing Street has suggested Boris Johnson could support opposition plans this week to trigger an election on December 9, a move that would deny the prime minister the opportunity to get Brexit through parliament ahead of a snap poll.

The pound did not react to the EU's agreement to a Brexit extension, with the news widely expected by the markets.

Sterling stood at $1.2841 against the dollar directly following the announcement, up 0.2 per cent on the day. Against the euro it remained up 0.1 per cent at €1.1577.

European Council president Donald Tusk has indicated that the Brexit "flextension" will be formalised through a written procedure - meaning, as expected, EU leaders will not have to meet for a special summit in Brussels to sign off on it.

Mr Tusk tweeted:

So what happens now?

With the EU27 giving political sign off to the extension, Brussels will now need a formal agreement from the UK on the deal.

Donald Tusk, EU council president, will then launch a so called "written procedure" to formally adopt the decision within 24 hours.

A senior EU official says it should all be done and dusted by tomorrow or Wednesday.

As eyes now turn to Westminster where the debate over when to schedule an election moves centre stage, here is a recap as to what this morning's development means in the grand scheme of things, via Jim Brunsden and Mehreen Khan in Brussels.

The EU has agreed to grant Britain a Brexit extension until January 31 2020, removing the risk of an imminent no-deal exit, and creating the political space for Westminster to decide on the timing of a general election.

National ambassadors from the EU27 have given their blessing to a "flextension" that could last as long as the end of January but that gives the UK the possibility to leave earlier if its withdrawal treaty has been ratified.

The decision means that Europe has granted a request made by the UK government earlier this month, after Boris Johnson was forced by parliament to seek a delay. The move also sounds the death knell for Mr Johnson's bid to take Britain out of the EU "do or die" on October 31.

The deal on the extension was reached after a flurry of diplomatic activity over the weekend aimed at winning around France to the three month delay.

French president Emmanuel Macron pushed back last week against attempts by EU Council president Donald Tusk to rally countries behind the January 31 deadline. Paris argued that Britain had to explain clearly what it would do with an extension, and warned that pressure had to be kept up on the House of Commons to ratify Mr Johnson's draft exit treaty.

"It's true that France had a fairly tough position," said one EU official. "But there is now the perspective of quick British elections, which changes the picture."

Cracks increasingly visible between opposition parties

The divisions between Westminster's opposition parties are becoming ever clearer as the Scottish National Party and the Liberal Democrats push for a December 9 election, while Labour argues the Withdrawal Agreement Bill should be debated before any election is scheduled.

Speaking on Sky News, SNP Westminster leader Ian Blackford said his party has no interest in a debate over Boris Johnson's withdrawal bill and wants to head imminently for the polls.

"We have no desire to leave Europe. Scotland voted to remain," Mr Blackford said.

"We've no desire to be dragged out against our will. We want to make sure we fight for the right of Scotland to stay in Europe in an election campaign."

Labour MP Justin Madders retorted that it would be "daft" to hold an election in December, but that his party would agree to it "if that's the only way ahead".

"It is in the prime minister's gift to get the withdrawal agreement back for us to debate it and determine whether we leave on the terms he set out, whether there is a majority in parliament for a second referendum, whether there are amendments we can make to make it a more acceptable form of withdrawal."

Labour is not expected to support Boris Johnson's push for an election later this afternoon, with Jeremy Corbyn set to order his MPs to abstain against the motion which would also enable the prime minister to try to push his Brexit deal through the Commons before a poll.

Labour has dismissed Number 10's plan as a stunt and said it will back an election only once the threat of a no-deal exit has been ruled out.

It would be the third time in two months that Labour has resisted an election.

With the latest opinion polls giving the Tories a double-digit lead, Labour's former general secretary Iain McNicol has warned the party is unlikely to perform as well in a future campaign as it did in 2017, when Mr Corbyn was widely considered to have outperformed expectations.

"The next election is not going to be the same as the last election," he told Sky News, adding that 'peak Corbyn' had been two years ago.

"At that point Jeremy was fresh and Jeremy was new so there was bit of energy that was there... I do worry where we are now, the Conservatives won't make the same mistakes that they made last time round."

The FT reported on Friday that the Labour leadership was wrongfooted by Mr Johnson's election call and has faced fresh criticism of dithering over whether to go for a vote.

There were chaotic scenes on Monday morning at Millbank Tower, where the People's Vote campaign has its headquarters in crowded offices, writes William Wallis.

Roland Rudd, who as chair of Open Europe, one of five organisations inside the People's Vote, wields considerable power within the campaign, was supposed to address staff at 9am. But he failed to show up for the meeting. Activists in the campaign were then told they had the day off.

Mr Rudd informed campaign chiefs -- James McGrory, director of the campaign, and Tom Baldwin, head of communications -- that they were dismissed in an email on Sunday evening. But the campaign chiefs rallied staff and were holding meetings near Millbank, deliberating on what to do.

"The whole thing is utterly ridiculous. This day, this week of all weeks," said one campaign supporter.

With many staff and supporters unhappy about the shake-up, it was unclear whether Mr Rudd would prevail.

The EU's decision to grant the UK an extension until the end of January 2020 has opened up a window for a general election at the end of this year.

Now, MPs have to decide on two questions:

*tDo they want to hold an election at all this year?

*tShould they have another go at passing Boris Johnson's Brexit deal before a poll?

Here is what to watch for over the next few days.

*tThe government's plan, which MPs will vote on around 7pm this afternoon, would see an election on December 12.

*tIt would also allow the government to bring its Brexit deal back to the Commons, and give parliament until November 6 to approve the legislation.

*tUnder the 2011 Fixed-Term Parliaments Act, Mr Johnson needs the backing of two-thirds of MP, so at least 434 votes in support.

*tGiven the lack of support from Labour and the other opposition parties, it is hard to see where the votes are for Mr Johnson's plan.

*tThe Liberal Democrats have proposed an election on December 9. This looks more likely to succeed.

*tTheir plan involves passing a one-page bill through the Commons, which would only need a simple majority.

*tDowning Street has suggested Boris Johnson could support this if their plan fails.

*tThe Lib Dems and the Scottish National Party - who both want to stop Brexit - think their bill would stop Brexit being rushed through before an election.

Boris Johnson is expected to open the 90-minute debate this afternoon on whether to hold an early election under the Fixed Term Parliament Act, writes George Parker in London.

The vote is scheduled to take place at about 7pm, but could be delayed if there are ministerial statements/urgent questions first.

Mr Johnson's spokesman declined to speculate on what Mr Johnson would do if he failed to get the required two-thirds majority - 434 MPs - to back the motion, but Tory officials have suggested he could quickly go down "the Lib Dem route".

That means that the government would put down a one-line motion, reflecting the objectives of the Lib Dems and Scottish National party: namely an election on December 9 but taking place before Mr Johnson's Brexit deal was ratified by parliament.

The idea of a Brexit election would obviously suit the Lib Dems - who have a clear Remain position - and the SNP, who want an election out of the way before a court case involving former party leader Alex Salmond starts in January.

If Mr Johnson decided to oblige, it is likely the government would itself put down the one-line bill to suspend the Fixed Term Parliaments Act, allowing for an early election.

The bill could be amended - for example to allow EU nationals to take part in the general election - but the government could threaten to pull it if it was radically amended.

Jo Swinson, Lib Dem leader, has said that the bill should not be amended.

The FT's political editor, George Parker, reports:

No 10 sources are confirming that if they don't win the early election vote tonight (under the Fixed Term Parliament Act) the government will indeed bring forward a one line bill which is "almost identical" to the one proposed by the Liberal Democrats and SNP.

"Tonight is Labour's last chance to have election with Brexit delivered -- they can vote for 12th and get Brexit done before. If not, we will introduce a bill almost identical to the Lib Dem/SNP tomorrow."

"This parliament has repeatedly failed to deliver on its promise to respect the referendum. Millions of families and businesses can't plan because of constant delays. We need a new parliament by Christmas so we can Get Brexit Done in January and the country can move on."

That is likely to be acceptable to the Lib Dems and SNP in principle, unless there is a catch in the "almost identical" phraseology coming out of No 10.

Lib Dem insiders also say the bill they have in mind is very tightly drafted to avoid it becoming a "Christmas tree" on to which lots of amendments could be attached.

So if the government loses the vote tonight, as expected, Boris Johnson could form an unusual alliance with the Lib Dems and SNP to trigger an election on December 9 - with Labour possibly holding out against a poll.

Ireland welcomed the EU's decision of to grant another extension to the UK saying the move averts the risk of a disruptive no-deal Brexit, writes Arthur Beesley in Dublin.

The Irish government spokesman said:

"The decision extends the deadline to the end of January, but allows for an earlier exit by the UK if ratification is completed quickly."

"We hope the extra time will be used to ensure that the withdrawal agreement agreed between UK and EU27 is ratified, enabling an orderly Brexit."

The Liberal Democrats will smooth the route towards a pre-Christmas general election, Sebastian Payne writes.

The party is planning to table a simple piece of legislation to call an election on December 9, as it will not back the Johnson government's motion tonight for an election under the Fixed Term Parliament Act.

If the government's motion fails - it will unless Labour changes its mind - then Number 10 will bring forward a bill "almost identical" to the Liberal Democrats' offering. Crucially the party will support it.

One senior insider said they "can't see any problem with us supporting it" but it would depend on its contents.

"The base line has to be triplelock protection of avoiding no-deal, don't ask us to facilitate ramming the Withdrawal Agreement through the Commons and the date must be set in stone."

The Lib Dems are also not ruling out supporting a bill with a different election date, as Mr Johnson may opt for December 12 over December 9. "The sooner the better."

Crucially, the Lib Dems have also said they are not minded to back any amendments to the bill that would impede its process through parliament.

"We wouldn't want to support amendments because we want to get it through as a simple bill," the insider said.

"If there were those kinds of amendments, it doesn't go through. The clock is ticking, we're losing important weeks," said one MP. Such amendments may also be ruled out of scope.

If the Liberal Democrats and Scottish National party do support the government's bill for an election without amendments, they could outmaneuver Labour.

Approximately 339 MPs could support this route, producing a rough majority of 19:

*tConservatives: 257
*tSpartan Tories: 28
*tSNP: 35
*tLiberal Democrats: 19

It is unlikely that the Democratic Unionist party, most of the 23 independent Conservative MPs and other independents would support the election bill.

Brexit countdown restarted

George Osborne, former Tory Chancellor turned newspaper editor, has a question for his former colleagues in the Conservative party. What has happened to the Brexit clocks that were counting down to Boris Johnson's pledge to leave the EU by October 31 'do or die'?

Here is Conservative party chairman James Cleverly with one of the clocks, in photo taken from a tweet posted by the party in July.

Today, Mr Cleverly has tweeted: "Quite clear that the People's Vote campaign isn't going to resolve anything, we have to have a General Election."

With a pre-Christmas election looking ever more likely, it is worth taking a step back and reminding ourselves what voters think of the parties as things stand - and who is likely to reap the rewards of a near-term election.

The latest Britain Elects poll tracker puts the Conservatives roughly 10 points clear of Labour. The Tories edged up 0.3 points over the past week to 35.1 per cent, while Labour has remained static at 25.4 per cent.

That mirrors the direction of polling numbers over the past few months. The Conservatives have been gaining ground since the summer as the Brexit party fell from favour with voters. Labour, meanwhile, has remained stuck in the mud, while the Lib Dems have hung onto their summer gains.

While these numbers of course come with the usual health warning about the predictive accuracy of polls, they do put Labour's reluctance to back an election into perspective.

The odds of an outright Tory majority have also shifted upwards in the past week and now sit at 49 per cent, according to betting market numbers crunched by Jordan Rochester at Nomura.

However, Mr Rochester cautions that pundits "have done an awful job in the past" at predicting outcomes, given the volatile nature of a six-week campaign.

"I expect the Brexit party to campaign hard and eat away at the Tory lead. Different to 2017, the Lib Dems could do well and this makes predicting the outcome of marginals even more difficult."

Shadow cabinet has concluded and the order has gone out that Labour MPs should abstain in tonight's "early election" vote, as expected.

With some Labour MPs likely to vote against the government, that means that Boris Johnson's gambit to trigger an early election under the fixed term parliament act is highly likely to fail for the third time.

The decision follows lengthy discussion, with some members of the shadow cabinet saying it would be better for Labour to try to hold out for an election in the spring of 2020.

Privately some shadow ministers hope that Jeremy Corbyn might decide to stand aside by then, although they admit that this is probably wishful thinking.

Another twist in No 10 thinking this week is just emerging. Boris Johnson expects to lose tonight's key vote on an early election - he won't get the two-thirds of MPs required to trigger a December 12 election under the fixed term parliament act - but intriguing news about what he might do next.

Government sources have said Mr Johnson would propose an "almost identical" one-line bill to the one proposed by the Lib Dems and the SNP: that would pave the way for an election on perhaps December 9 or 10 before parliament had ratified Mr Johnson's Brexit deal.

However Tory officials say they might first give Labour MPs (and Independent Conservatives) one last chance to vote for a programme motion setting out a tight timetable for parliamentary approval of the prime minister's Brexit legislation: the Withdrawal Agreement bill.

Conversations are taking place on Monday between No 10 and those Labour and Ind Con MPs who backed the WAB on its second reading (when the government won by a majority of 30) but then voted against the programme motion to rush the bill through parliament (which the government lost by 14).

Under the original programme motion MPs would have had just three days to pass the WAB. Under a new programme motion, that timetable could be stretched until November 6, still leaving time for Mr Johnson to achieve his primary goal: to hold an election before Christmas on December 12 having legislated to take Britain out of the EU.

While eyes are trained on developments in Westminster, down in Kent the government has been pushing ahead with its no-deal preparations with the implementation of 'Operation Brock'.

Despite today's 'flextension' taking no-deal off the table for now, the government has been trialling the contingency plan aimed at reducing gridlock on the M20 in the event of a no-deal Brexit.

There is chatter in Downing Street that the government could "split the difference" on a potential election date with the Liberal Democrats and Scottish National party in their version of a bill to call an election.

While the opposition parties are aiming for December 9, the government prefers December 12. "We could meet them halfway," one insider hints.

We'll see if/when the government published its bill...

Britain faces an unregulated "wild west" of political campaigning in any snap general election thanks to the country's outdated electoral laws, according to the Electoral Reform Society.

The campaign group has called for emergency legislation to close loopholes in the law, and said an election risks being undermined by "dark ads and dodgy donations."

It is calling for updates to the law surrounding donations to political parties, increasing the size of the fines the Electoral Commission can hand out, and better registration to the Electoral Roll.

On advertising transparency, the ERS warned:

"Foreign states, organisations or individuals are able to influence UK campaigns with online ads with little oversight, while there are serious flaws with the social media giants' self-declared 'transparency' tools."

The prime minister has left Downing Street for the House of Commons, which will debate the government's election push shortly.

Boris Johnson has begun the parliamentary debate over whether to hold a general election on December 12.

The prime minister said: "Nobody in this house relishes the idea of a general election" but he believes there is "a widespread view this parliament has run its course."

"There was a tantalising moment when I thought parliament was going to do the sensible thing, and then this house threw out the 'programme motion' ... They made it inevitable that the people of this country would be retained in the EU for at least another three months."

Boris Johnson said an election on December 12 would provide a "moment of truth" to end the Brexit deadlock in parliament, and stop MPs delaying Brexit.

"We must have December 12 as a 'hard stop'. A parliamentary terminus that everyone can believe in, and an election fulfills that purpose to allow a new parliament and a new government to be in place by Christmas."

Mr Johnson goaded Labour leader to back his bid for an election. "I think the leader of the opposition has now run out of excuses," he said.

Johnson sends letter to EU formally agreeing Brexit extension

Boris Johnson has sent a letter to Brussels formally confirming the UK's agreement to the Brexit extension that EU leaders backed earlier on Monday.

The UK prime minister reiterated his objection to the extension from October 31 to as late as the end of January 2020, saying: "the unwanted prolongation of the UK's membership of the EU is damaging to our democracy and to the relationship between us and our European friends."

Here's a snippet of the letter (you can read the full text here):

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has replied to Boris Johnson's pitch.

His party is not set to back an election today, meaning the government is not expected to get the two-thirds of MPs required to trigger a December 12 election under the Fixed Term Parliament act.

He said the prime minister "has failed because he has chosen to fail, and he now seeks to blame parliament."

"Every promise this prime minister makes he then abandons. He said he would take us out of the European Union by the 31st of October 'do or die'. He spent £100m on an advertising campaign to leave on the 31st of October. But failed to deliver."

The EU has responded to Boris Johnson's letter formally agreeing to the Brexit extension.

A spokesperson for European Council President Donald Tusk said: "PM
Boris Johnson has now confirmed the UK's agreement to the Brexit flextension in a letter to President Tusk. The EU27 written procedure to formalise the decision will be launched soon."

Jeremy Corbyn has outlined his party's concerns over a December 12 election, including the short days in parts of the country and the risk of disenfranchising students who would have left university for their holidays.

However, he added that a December 9 election could be more palatable, and his party would "consider carefully any legislation proposed that locks in the date," a hint he could support tomorrow's expected one-line bill from the Liberal Democrats and SNP.

Government sources have also said Mr Johnson would propose an "almost identical" one-line bill to the one proposed by the Lib Dems and the SNP: that would pave the way for an election on perhaps December 9 or 10.

"When no-deal is off the table, when the date for an election can be fixed in law and when we can ensure students are not being disenfranchised, we will back an election."

The Scottish National Party's Ian Blackford has said his party's 35 MPs will not vote for an election this evening.

He said: "We in these benches do want an election, but not with the hand that the prime minister is delivering."

As MPs get stuck into the debate, here is a reminder of the wider questions they face.

The EU's decision to grant the UK an extension until the end of January 2020 has opened up a window for a general election at the end of this year.

Now, MPs have to decide on two questions:

* Do they want to hold an election at all this year?

* Should they have another go at passing Boris Johnson's Brexit deal before a poll?

Coming up this evening: Vote on the Downing Street plan for an election and Brexit

* The government's plan would see an election on December 12.

* It would also allow the government to bring its Brexit deal back to the Commons, and give parliament until November 6 to approve the legislation.

* Under the 2011 Fixed-Term Parliaments Act, Mr Johnson needs the backing of two-thirds of MP, so at least 434 votes in support.

* Labour and the SNP have already indicated they will not support it. Boris Johnson expects to lose the vote.

* The Liberal Democrats have proposed an election on December 9.

* Their plan involves passing a one-page bill through the Commons, which would only need a simple majority.

* The Lib Dems and the Scottish National Party - who both want to stop Brexit - think their bill would stop Brexit being rushed through before an election.

*tGovernment sources have said Mr Johnson would propose an "almost identical" one-line bill to the one proposed by the Lib Dems and the SNP if he loses the vote tonight.

*tThat would pave the way for an election on perhaps December 9 or 10 before parliament had ratified Mr Johnson's Brexit deal.

Thoughts have already turned to the government's next move if it loses this evening's vote, as is expected given the need for support from a two-thirds majority of MPs.

Downing Street is expected to table an "almost identical" one-line bill to the one proposed by the Lib Dems and the SNP.

The FT's Sebastian Payne says the proposed date would be either December 10 or 11. Crucially, this bill - which would not include an attempt to bring the Brexit deal back to the Commons before the election - would only need a simple majority to get through the House.

There is increasing chatter that the Labour party may back the government's impending simple bill for a general election between December 9 and 12 in a vote in the coming days, Sebastian Payne reports.

One party official said: "It falls on not wanting an election but it becomes inevitable if Tories back the Lib Dem bill. We can't go into an election having not backed it."

Jeremy Corbyn has in effect set out the terms for backing such a bill. In the House of Commons earlier, the opposition leader said he would back an election:

"When no-deal is off the table, when the date for an election can be fixed in law, and when we can ensure students are not being disenfranchised, we will back an election so this country can get the government it needs."

MPs are now voting on whether to hold a general election on December 12.

The government is not expected to secure the two-thirds majority it needs to win.

Sebastian Payne has these details on how the emerging 'Plan B' for a general election before Christmas is shaping up:

1. Mr Johnson loses the Fixed Term Parliament Act vote, which is taking place now.

2. The prime minister will then make a point of order, where he is expected to set out a one-clause bill for an election between 9-12th December. Downing Street has confirmed there will be a specific date in the bill.

3. The government's bill will be modelled on Liberal Democrat/SNP effort announced over the weekend, albeit with a different date. Lib Dem sources suggested earlier today they could still back the bill if it doesn't have their December 9 date, but there's been some wrangling with No10 today.

4. A business statement will follow from Jacob Rees-Mogg, leader of the Commons, setting out the new bill. Assuming the election bill is introduced on Tuesday, the dilemma will then be on amendments. The SNP's Ian Blackford has already hinted that his party will seek to amend it to include votes at 16-year-olds and votes for EU nationals.

5. The best hope for the government passing this bill is that the Lib Dems will oppose any substantial amendments to the election bill, knowing that the government will drop it if it changes. There is also the chance the Speaker will rule them out of scope, given how straightforward the bill is. That is the next battle over the coming days.

As expected, the government did not win a two-thirds majority.

The final vote was 299 in favour and 70 against.

Boris Johnson has said the government will now introduce a "short bill" for an election on December 12. Expect MPs to vote on that in the coming days.

This is essentially a different legislative vehicle to force an election, and would not include an attempt to bring the Brexit deal back to the Commons.

Positively for the government, it would only need a simple majority of MPs to back it to pass. But the government will face a dilemma as MPs are expected to table amendments to it, such as votes for 16 year olds.

"There is no support for the Withdrawal Agreement to proceed but this House cannot any longer keep this country hostage," Mr Johnson said.

In response, Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said his party will scrutinise the government's plan.

Boris Johnson is struggling to progress towards a general election thanks to the Fixed-term Parliaments Act, which was introduced in 2011 and makes it relatively hard for an incumbent prime minister to call a snap poll.

It offers a government three ways to call an early election.

1. The Commons votes for an immediate election. This was what Downing Street tried today, but it came unstuck because of the need for cross-party support and that two-thirds majority.

2. A one-line bill is Downing Street's next chosen option. This bypasses the Fixed-term Parliaments Act and legislates for an election through for a one-line act of parliament. This could state that parliament had decreed that an election will take place on December 12, and would need to be approved by a simple majority of MPs. But it carries the risk of opposition parties amending it.

3. The government could call a vote of no-confidence in itself, but it gives parliament the chance to explore whether another party leader or senior MP can form a majority government.

So where do we stand on Monday evening?

Boris Johnson is inching towards a general election, despite losing this evening's vote.

The prime minister has challenged MPs to support a new one-line bill for an election on December 12, in a bid to end the paralysis over Brexit that has gripped Westminster.

The focus now switches to how the opposition parties will respond, with a vote expected tomorrow. Which means we will all come back for more.

We are shutting down the live coverage tonight but do check the FT.com for developments through the evening.

We will be back here on ft.com/brexitlive for build-up, coverage and analysis of parliament's next vote. See you then.