Corbyn wants an election despite warning from Tony Blair

Media captionJeremy Corbyn calls for general election

Jeremy Corbyn says the UK “needs” a general election, despite warnings from Tony Blair that such a vote would be “an elephant trap “for Labor.

The ex-PM warned that Boris Johnson could win such a vote as” some may fear a Corbyn premiership more “than a no-deal Brexit.

But Mr Corbyn said a vote” would give the people a choice between two very different directions for the country “.

” An election is the democratic way forward, “he added.

The BBC understands “live discussions” are going on in No 10about asking Parliament to approve a snap poll if MPs wanting to block a no-deal Brexit defeat the government this week.

Under the Fixed Term Parliament Act, the prime minister could call a general election if two-thirds of MPs vote for one.

One could also be held if a motion of no confidence was passed and no alternative government was confirmed within 14 days.

The prime minister has said he wants the UK to leave the EU on 31 October, with or without a deal.

However, a number of MPs from his own party as well as the opposition are against a no-deal Brexit and are expected to bring forward legislation on Tuesday to try

At a speech in Salford, Mr Corbyn said: “When a government finds itself without a majority the solution is not to undermine democracy.

“The solution is to let the people decide and call a general election.

“It is the people not an unelected prime minister who should determine

He also insisted his party would do everything it could to prevent a no deal.

Shadow Brexit minister Jenny Chapman also said she would welcome an election, but added that “stopping a no deal must come first”.

However, former Labor leader Tony Blair warned that Labor would “struggle” in an election that took place before Brexit was “resolved “.

Media captionTony Blair: Election before Brexit is “an elephant trap”

“Boris Johnson knows that if no-deal Brexit stands on its own as a proposition, it might

“But if he mixes up the Brexit question with the Corbyn question in a general election, he could succeed, despite a majority being against a no-deal Brexit, because some may fear a Corbyn premiership more.

” He [Mr Corbyn] should see an election before Brexit is decided, for the elephant trap it is. “

Should Labor support a general election?

Labor politicians would have very, very different views on whether to support the PM if he called for

One source said Labor couldn’t allow itself to be in a situation where we have an election and we leave the EU during that election.

But Mr Corbyn did seem to indicate he would back going to the polls.

It would be rather awkward for him not to, when he and senior Labor politicians have been calling for a general election for such a long time.

It is interesting to note that in 2017, when the same quandary was put to Labor, some argued they should not support Theresa May’s call for a general election.

But in the end, some accounts say Mr Corbyn felt allowing people to have a vote was much more important than anything else.

What is Labor’s position on Brexit?

The Labor leader has been urged by members of his own party to fully support the *** remaining in the EU.

Some of his closest allies, including shadow chancellor John McDonnell, have already done so.

Mr Corbyn’s position is that he wants a general election, which would see Labor argue for a public vote on the terms of leaving the EU, with Remain on the ballot paper.

When asked how the party would campaign in such a vote, Mr Corbyn said it would **** depend on the other option.

“If it is no deal, we would vote for Remain,” he said, but added that if there was another deal on offer “the party’s democratic processes will decide”.