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JEREMY Corbyn and his cowardly MPs last night denied Boris Johnson the chance for an election for the third time - putting Britain on track for weeks more Brexit chaos.

MPs voted by 299 to 70 in favour of an early general election, but it fell short of the 434 MPs needed to get through as Labour bottled it again and refused to vote.

Boris Johnson asked MPs for the third time to back an election
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Boris Johnson asked MPs for the third time to back an electionCredit: EPA
Corbyn told his MPs to abstain last night and not support Boris' latest election bid
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Corbyn told his MPs to abstain last night and not support Boris' latest election bidCredit: EPA

The PM has now confirmed he will back an SNP-Liberal Democrat one-line bill plot instead, which will come back to the Commons today.

That would only require 50 per cent of MPs to push through instead - a total of 320 - which would be far more likely to succeed.

The Government and opposition MPs are now in a furious fight over which date is best for a snap poll to take place.

The PM told MPs tonight: "This House cannot any longer keep this country hostage. I don't believe this paralysis should be allowed to continue

"It's time for voters to replace this dysfunctional Parliament with a new Parliament that can get Brexit done."

But Boris is clinging to the December 12 polling date which opposition MPs are hell-bent against, as he's determined to give his Brexit law one more try before Christmas.

Lib Dem leader Jo Swinson and the SNP's Westminster leader Ian Blackford want an election on December 9 instead - which would mean Boris' Brexit Bill will have to be binned for now as it would run out of time to pass.

Mr Blackford said he won't back the new plan unless the PM guarantees that he won't try to ram his bill through as well.

And Ms Swinson warned she may not back it at all if the PM sticks to December 12.

She said:  "If Boris Johnson wants a General Election he could have supported our bill for a General Election on 9 December.

"Instead he has chosen to stick to his original plan for December 12 which we have already rejected."

Last night in an attempt to woo MPs No10 confirmed that he would pull the Brexit bill for now, but it remains to be seen whether it will be enough to get everyone on side.

Discussions were ongoing about the election date too in a hope MPs could rally around one.

Mr Corbyn said Labour would "look at the bill tomorrow (Tuesday)" and decide whether to back it - but only if the PM promises No Deal is taken off the table.

It comes as:

Earlier in the debate the leftie boss threw Boris a lifeline, indicating he could get behind an election date before students go home for their Christmas holidays - like December 9.

He told the Commons: "We will consider carefully any legislation proposed that locks in the date. We want something that definitely and definitively takes No Deal off the table and ensures that the voting rights of all our citizens are protected."

Last night the PM launched a searing attack on the Labour leader for running scared of a national vote and having "run out of excuses" to give.

NOWHERE TO HIDE

The PM blasted: "He can run but he cannot hide forever!"

"He is snookered - this charade has gone on for too long.

"We must get Brexit done by December 12 and go to the people.

"It is time we all, each and every one of us, to face our ultimate bosses, the people of this country."

The leftie boss would push the "toxic, tedious torture"; of two more referendums if he gets into power, the PM warned.

"The people can see the reality - they just want to delay Brexit and to cancel Brexit," he stormed.

"They want to go on delaying and delaying - to February and beyond."

What happens now?

  • Boris has lost a motion for an early election under the Fixed Term Parliaments Act - which requires two thirds of MPs to support it
  • The PM will today bring forward a new one-line bill calling for an election
  • He will try and fix the date in for December 12 - and will try and pursuade MPs to back it
  • He only needs 320 MPs to back it today, 50% of the House of Commons
  • So if the Lib Dems or the SNP back him, he's safe and an election is on the way
  • If they choose to, they could try and force Boris to change the date to an earlier one - such as December 9, 10 or 11
  • Even if the Bill passes today, MPs will have their chance to wreck it later on with amendments at other stages
Jo Swinson says she would back an election and a second referendum
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Jo Swinson says she would back an election and a second referendumCredit: EPA
Speaker John Bercow addresses the Commons
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Speaker John Bercow addresses the CommonsCredit: EPA
Boris last night wrote to Donald Tusk to confirm the extension to Article 50
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Boris last night wrote to Donald Tusk to confirm the extension to Article 50

RUNNING SCARED

MPs think that Labour will lose a snap poll - and their seats - and are refusing to back one.

Jez's top team want to fight the Tories in an election, but most of the rest of the party are dragging their heels.

Shadow Home Secretary Diane Abbott was last night reported to have torn into MPs who were "crying about an election" - saying they were the same people saying the leftie boss should have stood down in 2017.

She added: "So frankly the PLP can go f**k themselves."

NO MORE DO OR DIE

Yesterday's extension news means the PM's "do or die" promise to leave the EU by October 31 has now been completely shattered.

Boris refused to resign for breaking his promise, or say sorry, despite saying he would rather be "dead in a ditch" than accept an extension.

It means Britain will be in the EU until January 31 now, or could leave sooner if a deal is passed before then.

The government wanted the Commons to back a December general election
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The government wanted the Commons to back a December general electionCredit: PA:Press Association
The prime minister is now negotiating with opposition parties about the exact date on which an election might be held
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The prime minister is now negotiating with opposition parties about the exact date on which an election might be heldCredit: EPA

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What's the difference between the two election plans?

BORIS' PLAN:

  • Push through Brexit Bill by November 6 with extra time for debate
  • Hopefully deliver EU exit and then go to the polls on December 12
  • Needs two thirds of MPs to push it through under Fixed Term Parliaments Act
  • Would mean Boris would be able to deliver Brexit and go to the polls - giving him a boost

LIB DEM/SNP PLAN

  • Ditch Boris' Withdrawal Agreement Bill
  • Push through a simple one-line bill to call for an election on December 9
  • Would only need over half of MPs
  • But could get bogged down by other MPs who try to tack on amendments - such as demanding all 16 year olds get the vote
  • Would mean Boris had not delivered Brexit by polling day, leaving him weakened
  • Election date would be earlier and Labour/Lib Dems could get more support from uni students who have yet to go home
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