Boris Johnson is to attempt to call an early general election via the Fixed Term Parliaments Act – which mandates a two-thirds majority must vote for a new general election to be called.
It is to go to a Commons vote on Monday.
Johnson appears to have chosen the FTPA route because of fears that MPs might amend a new bill, which would only need a simple majority to pass, to give votes to 16-year-olds. Support for the Tories among under-40s has collapsed and lowering the voting age would guarantee defeat for Johnson.
The SKWAWKBOX needs your support. This blog is provided free of charge but depends on the generosity of its readers to be viable. If you can afford to, please click here to arrange a one-off or modest monthly donation via PayPal or here for a monthly donation via GoCardless. Thanks for your solidarity so this blog can keep bringing you information the Establishment would prefer you not to know about.
If you wish to reblog this post for non-commercial use, you are welcome to do so – see here for more.