Boris Johnson has demanded MPs who voted down his Brexit bill last night now back a general election to break the deadlock.

The prime minister said he wanted to deliver Britain's departure from the EU on 31 October, with Downing Street briefing he had told Brussels it was in everyone's interests for no delay to be granted.

Mr Corbyn claimed the divorce deal secured last week was a "worse than terrible treaty".

Image: Jeremy Corbyn called the deal a 'worse than terrible treaty'

Their fiery clash at PMQs came just minutes after a sit-down meeting between the two, their chief whips and most senior advisers.

A Conservative source said it was to find common ground for a new timetable for the bill to pass through parliament, after Mr Johnson "paused" the bill's progress following defeat on his bid to rush it through in three days.


However a Labour spokesperson said Mr Corbyn pushed for a "reasonable timetable" to allow proper scrutiny.

They added, crucially, that the Labour leader would unleash his party's support for an early election once "the threat of a no-deal crash out is off the table".

Sturgeon berates 'disgraceful' govt timetable

It is not possible to rule out no-deal completely, but the EU could respond to the prime minister's forced request for a three-month delay later on Wednesday.

The SNP hinted they too could back a snap poll, its Westminster leader Ian Blackford calling on Mr Johnson to "secure an extension and bring on a general election".

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Nicola Sturgeon, the national party leader and Scottish first minister, earlier said any delay should be long enough for an election or referendum.

Donald Tusk, the president of the EU Council which liases directly with all 28 leaders, said he had recommended to them they accept the request to move the Brexit deadline to 31 January 2020.

Image: Donald Tusk has recommended EU leaders accept a three month delay

He was backed by David Sassoli, the new president of the EU Parliament - which is holding off on voting whether it approves the deal until the British parliament does too.

Ken Clarke, a Tory grandee and former chancellor, has called on the prime minister to un-pause his deal legislation and come up with an alternative timetable he thinks MPs could support to deliver Brexit in "a month or two".

But Mr Johnson remained steadfast, saying "I think it would still be very much in the best interests of this country… to get Brexit done by 31 October."

His spokesman later responded to a question about whether he could push for a general election before Christmas by saying "yes".

Mr Johnson held a phone call with German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Wednesday afternoon where he told her "we should not delay", Number 10 said.

With no debates on the deal legislation known as the EU Withdrawal Agreement Bill (WAB) pencilled in, MPs will spend Wednesday and Thursday debating the Queen's Speech, which Mr Johnson pushed suspended parliament for earlier this month.