Boris Johnson 'threatens to go on strike' if MPs block his snap election bid

Boris Johnson has threatened to effectively go on strike if MPs block his bid to hold a general election.

A spokesman for the Prime Minister said the Government would only bring "the bare minimum" in front of Parliament if he is thwarted in his plan to go to the country on 12 December.

Johnson has said that a snap poll is the only way to break the Brexit impasse after MPs refused to back his fast-track timetable for getting his deal through Parliament.

The PM made his announcement following an emergency Cabinet meeting on Thursday.

He said: "The way to get his done is to be reasonable with Parliament and say if they genuinely want more time to study this excellent deal they can have it, but they have to agree to a general election on 12 December."

It will be the third time Johnson has tried to call an election, having failed to get the necessary two-thirds majority - 434 votes - on two previous occasions.

In a letter to Jeremy Corbyn setting out his plans, the Prime Minister said: "It is time, frankly, the opposition summoned up the nerve to face our collective boss, which is the UK."

But Labour's position is in chaos, with Corbyn postponing a final decision until the EU announces what length of Brexit extension it will offer the UK.

That may not come until Monday - the day when MPs are due to vote on Johnson's election bid.

The PM's spokesman made clear that if Parliament turns him down again, the Government will not seek to bring the Withdrawal Agreement Bill - which is needed to bring his Brexit deal into law - back to the Commons.

He said: "If Jeremy Corbyn and MPs are unwilling to get Brexit done or submit to the judgment of the people then we will use our time in Parliament to only make the case for a general election while government simply gets on with running the country and delivering on the domestic priorities of the public like more police on the street to fight crime and investing in the NHS."

In a further sign of the deadlock, Chancellor Sajid Javid announced on Thursday night that he was cancelling plans to deliver his first budget on 6 November.