The comedy of errors that is Brexit produced another predictably silly moment on Monday evening, as Parliament yet again rejected Boris Johnson’s proposal for an early election.
Johnson had sought to force a vote on December 12, with Jeremy Corbyn insisting he wouldn’t back the move unless a no-deal Brexit was taken off the table entirely.
The vote was 299-70. Johnson needed 434 votes for the motion to pass. It was the third time he’s angled for an election, only to be thwarted.
Earlier, the EU approved a three-month extension to allow time for more arguing and for this farce to reach its true potential when it comes to being one of the most embarrassing spectacles in modern political history.
Read more: EU Says It’s Fine If Brexit Is Delayed To January 31
According to Boris’s spokesman, Johnson is considering an election anytime between December 9 and December 12, and will unveil a “Plan B” now that he’s lost his third bid to trigger a snap vote.
One option under consideration is apparently a one-line bill which would bring forward the date of the next election. MPs may vote on that later this week.
As noted earlier Monday, Liberal Democrats and the Scottish National Party are trying to cobble together a plan for an election on December 9.
Boris begrudgingly accepted the EU’s Brexit extension on Monday, something he previously declared he’d rather be “dead in a ditch” than acquiesce to.
“I have no discretion”, he wrote, adding that “[this is] damaging to our democracy”.
“The vote was 299-70. Johnson needed 434 votes for the motion to pass.”
Lol, kind of short on total votes, eh Boris?
Apparently there are many more MPs than there are seats in the chamber so it is not unusual for something like half the members to bother to show up. So you get these weird votes. They should even bother to have the vote when the motion cannot pass.
There will be an election soon and the outcome will hinge largely on the Brexit party campaign and the extent of tactical voting. Exciting times.