After a fairly choppy few days, the pound seems stable today as markets await the EU’s Brexit extension decision. Prime Minister Boris Johnson met with Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn to discuss plans going forward. Corbyn put across Labour’s offer to agree on a different timetable for the Withdrawal Agreement, which would allow MPs to debate, scrutinise and amend it. He also reiterated Labour’s stance to only back a general election once no-deal had been taken off of the table. The Prime Minister wanted to know of Corbyn’s plans in the event that the EU would refuse to grant an extension. Reportedly, nothing was agreed between the two of them.
First ministers of Scotland and Wales have said that they will back a general election once the risk of a no-deal Brexit is removed. Both Nicola Sturgeon and Mark Drakeford stressed that they’d want to see the details of any Brexit extension before backing an election before Christmas.
There have been rumours that the cabinet is divided on whether to call a general election, with reports that some MPs want to focus on getting a Brexit deal through Parliament. However, number 10 have denied claims that there are splits in the cabinet’s strategy.
