Boris Johnson said he is willing to grant Parliament extra time to scrutinise his proposed Brexit deal if MPs agree to hold a general election on December 12. Parliamentarians earlier this week threw a spanner in the Prime Minister’s plans to fast-track his Brexit deal by voting down his timetable despite endorsing the agreement minutes before. Announcing his plan on Sky News, Mr Johnson said: “The way to get this done, the way to get Brexit 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 December 12.

“That’s the way forward. because this Parliament’s been going on for a long time with a majority, it’s refusing to deliver Brexit.”

Mr Johnson continued: “What we’ve decided is that we have a way forward for this country and for the EU – we’ve got a great deal on Brexit for the first time in three and a half years this Parliament has voted to endorse a way out.

“Unfortunately, they also voted to delay the final approval of that deal they endorsed. What that means, I’m afraid, is if this Parliament is anything to go by, that delay could go on for a very long time.

“It looks as if our EU friends are going to respond to Parliament’s request by having an extension – which I really don’t want.”

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The Prime Minister also wrote to Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn to outline his plans, which include a motion under the Fixed-Term Parliament Act to ask MPs their support for an election.

In the letter, Mr Johnson said: “It is our duty to end this nightmare and provide the country with a solution as soon as we reasonably can.

“The EU may offer only a short extension, say to 15 or 30 November. This would, obviously, be my preference but I was legally prevented by Parliament and the courts from suggesting this.

“If you commit to voting for an election next week (in the event of the EU offering a delay until January 31 and the Government accepting, as it is legally forced to do by Parliament), then we will make available all possible time between now and November 6 for the WAV to be discussed and voted through, including Fridays, weekends, the earliest starts and the latest finishes.”

He added: “It is time for MPs finally to take responsibility, More people voted Leave in 2016 than have ever voted for anything, Parliament promised to respect the referendum result. But Parliament has repeatedly avoided doing this.

“Given this situation, we must give the voters the chance to resolve this situation as soon as reasonably possible before the next deadline of 31 January.”

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