UK opposition parties agree to block Boris Johnson’s call for snap election

Britain’s opposition parties say this is their opportunity to “break Boris” and they won’t support the PM’s call for a snap election when it goes to a vote next week.

Britain’s opposition parties say they won’t support Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s call for a snap election when it comes to a vote next week.

The parties had been considering whether to agree to a mid-October poll proposed by the prime minister, which can only be triggered if two-thirds of MPs agree.

But after a conference hosted by Labour Leader Jeremy Corbyn on Friday morning (local time), Welsh party, Plaid Cymru's, Westminster leader Liz Saville-Roberts said all those in opposition would not support the PM’s motion.

"We have an opportunity to bring down Boris, to break Boris and to bring down Brexit, and we must take that," she said.

“The vote for a general election would play into Boris Johnson’s hands. It would allow him to ignore the legislation that is presently going through the House of Lords, likely to have royal assent today. It would allow him to ignore that. It would give him the opportunity to ignore the law.

Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson takes the bull by the reigns during a visit to Darnford Farm in Banchory near Aberdeen in Scotland. Picture: Andrew Milligan / POOL / AFP.

Scotland’s First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon, also confirmed the Scottish National Party (SNP) would not support the motion.

“The SNP relishes (the) prospect of an election. But while party interest might be served by voting for an election now, it is in the wider public interest to deny a PM threatening to defy the law any ability to cut and run in his own interests,” she tweeted.

JOHNSON HATES ‘BANGING ON ABOUT BREXIT’

Mr Johnson doubled down on his push for a general election on Thursday, saying he hated “banging on about Brexit”.

“I think if people really think this country should stay in the EU beyond October 31, then that should be a matter for the country to decide,” he said.

Mr Corbyn had previously said he would support a general election if a no-deal Brexit was off the table.

A bill that would force Mr Johnson to seek a three-month Brexit extension if he’s unable to secure a divorce deal by October 19, passed through the House of Lords on Friday evening.

It will become law within days once it gets the formality of royal assent. The law, backed by opposition lawmakers and Conservative rebels, compels Prime Minister Boris Johnson to ask the EU to postpone Brexit if no divorce agreement is in place by Oct. 19.

Johnson says the U.K. must leave the bloc on the currently scheduled date of Oct. 31, even if there is no deal.