Meanwhile former Chancellor Philip Hammond branded Mr Johnson “self-indulgent” for trying to trigger a nationwide poll. The prime minister will introduce a one-line bill proposing an election on December 12 which would only require a simple majority to succeed, as opposed to the support of two-thirds of the House, as required by the Fixed-term Parliaments Act 2011. However, given he only commands the support of 287 Tory MPs, he will still need the backing of the Liberal Democrats and Scottish National Party (SNP) to succeed.

The Government has abandoned attempts to get his Withdrawal and Implementation Bill (WAIB) through the Commons, for now at least, and BBC Political Editor Laura Kuenssberg suggested Mr Johnson’s refusal to have another go was “driving some Tories round the twist”.

Writing on the BBC’s website, she said: “One MP told me that a group of them made it clear to the PM in person on Monday night that they were deeply unhappy at what one of them described as him ‘being churlish, and taking his bat and ball home’, when he achieved what was said to be impossible by getting a deal in the first place, only to give up when the timetable for it was rejected last week.”

Mr Hammond said: “Stop the self-indulgent focus on elections on both sides and concentrate on passing the Bill.”

The Commons backed the government’s election motion by 299 to 70 on Monday – but with Labour abstaining along with the Lib Dems and the SNP, Mr Johnson was well short of the number needed.

However, there have been suggestions both parties may be minded to back a one-line bill – also known as a Notwithstanding Bill – today.

Professor Vernon Bogdanor, who suggested the idea last week, told Express.co.uk yesterday: “The Lib Dems presumably feel that they are on the up as the leading Remain party.

“They gained 700 new councillors in the council elections earlier this year, they beat Labour and the Tories in the European Parliament elections in May – the first time they have beaten both parties since before 1914, they won the Brecon by-election in August, and they have had defections from the two major parties.”

Prof Bogdanor has also suggested the SNP favour an early election believing it could score big wins north of the border, and also in advance of the trial of former leader Alex Salmond early next year, which could overshadow their campaign.

JUST IN: Treasury meltdown: Brexit commemorative coins to be scrapped

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8.32am update: Hardliners have seized control of Conservative Party, claims Hammond

Speaking on the Today programme this morning, Mr Hammond, who lost the party whip over his Brexit stance, added: “I fear that the real narrative here is that the Vote Leave activists, the cohort that has seized control in Downing Street, and to some extent in the headquarters of the Conservative Party, wants this general election to change the shape of the Conservative Party in Parliament.

“To get rid of a cohort of MPs that it regards as not robust enough on this issue and to replace them with hardliners.”

8.24am update: Hammond criticises “self-indulgent” Johnson over election push

Former Chancellor Philip Hammond has branded Boris Johnson “self-indulgent” for his attempts to force a general election rather than concentrate on getting his Withdrawal and Implementation Bill through the Commons.

Mr Hammond, who backed Remain in the 2016 referendum, told inews: “Parliament showed last week it wanted to get on with the Withdrawal Agreement Bill – it’s the government that hasn’t allowed us to do so.

“So stop the self-indulgent focus on elections on both sides and concentrate on passing the Bill.

“If we’d done that last week, we could have finished it by now.”

8.12pm update: “Don’t fight election on defending EU treaty,” Farage tells Johnson

Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage has warned Prime Minister Boris Johnson not to base a general election campaign on the deal he struck with Brussels earlier this month.

Mr Farage tweeted: “If the PM wants to fight a general election on defending a new EU treaty, that is very disappointing for all Leavers.

“His new agreement is just not Brexit.”

8.07am update: Jeremy Corbyn sparks Brexit outrage as party voters turn on leader

Jeremy Corbyn was attacked on Twitter by angry Labour fans and critics after voting against a third proposal for a general election.

The leader of the Labour Party took to social media to reconfirm his decision not to back a snap poll.

Writing on Twitter, Mr Corbyn said: “When no deal is off the table, we will back an election so this country can get a government that will: Properly fund our public services. Reduce grotesque poverty and inequality. Tackle the climate crisis with a Green Industrial Revolution.”

Irate Twitter users responded to the Labour leaders post heavily criticising Mr Corbyn and his election stance.

8.01am update: Panicked Labour MP admits party vetoed election bid amid fears they would lose

A Labour MP has admitted the party fears a Conservative victory in a general election.

The admission came during BBC Newsnight, where Labour MP Owen Smith was quizzed on the party’s position on another vote general election vote on Tuesday. Mr Smith was more than willing to spell out the party’s position, that it would not vote for a general election, and cited Labour’s lack of popularity as the reason.

Emily Maitlis asked Mr Smith: “Labour is going to vote against the election again tomorrow, is this right?”

Owen Smith: “Well as you know Emily I’ve had lots of disagreements with Jeremy Corbyn in recent years, but he’s right about this.”

Mr Smith agreed he wanted a Labour Govrenment – but added: “However, this would be the first time I think in history when a party had come from where we currently are, 15 or 16 points in some of the polls.”

7.56am update: Boris will only win election against Corbyn if he does ONE thing, claims Brexiteer Tebbit

Boris Johnson will only win the next general election if he focuses on a powerful vision for Britain after the country has cut ties with the European Union, Brexiteer Lord Norman Tebbit, has claimed.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson was dealt a huge blow on Monday evening after MPs failed to support his demand for a general election.

Mr Johnson has said he will lay a one-clause motion to amend the Fixed-Term Parliaments Act (FTPA) to call for a general election with the specific date of December 12, after his unsuccessful push to secure a national poll.

However, the Prime Minister has been warned about making the next general election all about Britain’s departure from the European Union, if he manages to secure it.

7.49am update: House prices pick up after eight-month low

Growth in British house prices, which has slowed almost to a halt ahead of Brexit, picked up a bit of speed in October after touching an eight-month low in September, according to a survey from mortgage lender Nationwide.

House prices rose by 0.4 percent on the year, Nationwide said on Tuesday.

A Reuters poll of economists had pointed to another rise of 0.2 percent.

In October alone, house prices rose by 0.2 percent, also slightly stronger than forecasts of no change.

7.48am update: Johnson set for fresh election push

Boris Johnson will today make a fourth attempt to force an early general election after Parliament rejected his latest attempt yesterday amid reports Tory MPs are “deeply happy” at his decision to abandon attempts to get his Brexit Bill ratified by Parliament.

The prime minister will introduce a one-line bill proposing a nationwide poll on December 12 which would only require a simple majority to succeed, as opposed to the support of two-thirds of the House, as required by the Fixed-term Parliaments Act 2011.

However, given he only commands the support of 287 Tory MPs, he will still need the backing of the Liberal Democrats and Scottish National Party (SNP) to succeed.

Writing on the BBC’s website, she said: “One MP told me that a group of them made it clear to the PM in person on Monday night that they were deeply unhappy at what one of them described as him “being churlish, and taking his bat and ball home”, when he achieved what was said to be impossible by getting a deal in the first place, only to give up when the timetable for it was rejected last week.”

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