The UK is heading for a December election after Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn announced that he would back a snap poll.
The Labour leader said he was satisfied that no-deal Brexit was “off the table” because the EU has delayed the UK’s departure to Jan. 31.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson had called for an election after breaking his pledge to deliver Brexit “do or die” by Oct. 31.
Johnson’s aim in holding a snap general election will be to secure a majority in parliament, enabling him to pass the Brexit legislation needed to take the UK out of the EU on his terms. Corbyn has promised to hold a second referendum if he wins power and give British voters the option to remain in the EU.
On Monday, Johnson accused Corbyn of being “chicken” for denying him a snap poll for the third time in recent weeks.
But as the Scottish National Party (SNP) and Liberal Democrats looked to set to give the prime minister the majority he needs to pass legislation forcing a pre-Christmas election, Corbyn was effectively forced to row in behind the plan.
The Labour leader told his shadow cabinet this morning: “I have consistently said that we are ready for an election and our support is subject to a no-deal Brexit being off the table.
“We have now heard from the EU that the extension of Article 50 to January 31 has been confirmed, so for the next three months, our condition of taking no deal off the table has now been met.
“We will now launch the most ambitious and radical campaign for real change our country has ever seen.”
Johnson also looks set to overcome the one remaining obstacle to getting MPs’ approval for an election after a No. 10 source indicated that the prime minister was willing to compromise on the date.
The prime minister had proposed a Dec. 12 poll, but the SNP and Lib Dems are demanding an earlier vote on Dec. 9, arguing more students will still be at university and able to vote on the earlier date.
The source indicated the government was willing to accept a compromise date of Dec. 11, and would agree to amend the early parliamentary election bill on Tuesday to specify this.
Johnson called for an election after being forced to break his pledge to leave the EU by Oct. 31.
He has also dropped his Brexit deal to get SNP and Lib Dem backing for a snap poll.
It effectively pitches the first winter election in decades as a battle for Brexit.
This story has been updated.