Boris Johnson attacks Jeremy Corbyn for blocking a general election

The PM will accuse Jeremy Corbyn of “a cowardly insult to democracy” later for not backing a general election.

Boris Johnson – who sources say regards this as the first day of an election campaign – will argue the Labour leader is denying people their say on the progress of Brexit.

On Wednesday, MPs blocked Mr Johnson’s plan for an early election.

But House of Commons Leader Jacob Rees-Mogg said another motion on this would be put before Parliament on Monday.

Shadow chancellor John McDonnell said Labour wanted an election but its priority was stopping a no-deal Brexit.

Opposition parties are in talks about how to respond to the prime minister’s call for a snap election on 15 October, amid concern over whether a poll should be delayed until after an extension has been agreed to prevent a no-deal Brexit on 31 October.