Vicki Young
Chief Political Correspondent

It looks like there are the numbers to get the bill stopping a no-deal Brexit through Parliament.

But the pressure is piling up on Conservative MPs, who are being told they will be booted out of the party.

There is a lot to think about for them. How far are they prepared to go?

The question is, are they willing to sacrifice their careers to stop something they think is incredibly damaging?

Image source, UK Parliament

Labour MP Hilary Benn is one of the MPs behind the bill seeking to prevent the UK from leaving the EU.

He says it is "nonsense" to say MPs will undermine the UK's talks with the EU.

"The former PM [Theresa May] spent two years saying no deal is better than a bad deal.

"If that didn't work then, why that should work now?" he asks.

He also questions whether the government is serious about negotiating with the EU.

Throughout the prime minister's statement protesters gathered outside No 10 could be heard shouting "stop the coup".

The slogan has been used by those opposed to the prime minister's plan to suspend Parliament.

Laura Kuenssberg
BBC political editor

Did Boris Johnson just announce an election without actually announcing an election?

He's always said that he really doesn't want to go to the country again.

Downing Street is still absolutely adamant that is still the case, and again with the formality of the No 10 podium, he insisted it was not what he wanted to do. But he also made plain that there were no circumstances in which he would ask Brussels to delay our departure from the EU.

And that means only one thing. Calling an election if, in his view, he needs to. When would he need to do that? Soon.

Read more from Laura here.

Director of the research group Deltapoll Joe Twyman says much of the polling points to a win for the Conservatives should an election be called this week.

"But these are not normal times.

"Those calculations don't take into account the huge division through this country along the lines of Remain and Leave.

"They also don't take into account the impact the Brexit Party could have in key consistencies - potentially damaging the Conservative vote."

He says that the campaign itself could play a part and he references the way a Conservative lead in the polls shrank during Theresa May's 2017 campaign.

BBC News Channel

BBC chief political correspondent Vicki Young says Boris Johnson was making a "last-minute plea to his own MPs".

She says he was asking them: "Do you want to go into the voting lobbies with Jeremy Corbyn and undermine the UK’s negotiating position?"

Mr Johnson argues that the only way the UK will achieve an acceptable deal or get any kind of concession is "if the EU thinks the UK is serious about no deal".

"If MPs tomorrow or the next day make him (Mr Johnson) go and ask for another delay, he thinks that leverage is taken away from him," she says.

Ms Young says that he made it clear he would not be willing to ask for an extension, and says that if he did, he would be "politically finished".

That means if MPs do vote for the extension bill, the suggestion is that he would ask for a motion calling a general election to be put down later this week.

The prime minister concludes his statement by saying he has "a massive agenda" for the UK.

"Let's come together and get it done - and let's get Brexit done by 31 October," he says.

The PM says he believes he can get a deal from the EU "that Parliament will be able to scrutinise".

"In the meantime let's let our negotiators get on with their work without that Sword of Damocles. And without an election," he says.

"I don't want an election, you don't want an election," he tells the cameras.

Mr Johnson continues: "I say, to show our friends in Brussels that we are untied in our purpose, MPs should vote with the government against Corbyn's pointless delay.

"I want everyone to know there are no circumstances under which I would ask Brussels for a delay."

As the prime minister speaks, he is met by chants from outside the gates of Downing Street.

He says: "One thing holding us back in Brussels with these talks is that MPs may find some way to vote with Jeremy Corbyn for yet another pointless delay.

"I hope that they won't.

"But if they do they would chop the legs from under the UK position."

He goes on to say his government is making progress on Brexit.

He says the chances of a deal are rising because the EU can "see we want a deal."

Boris Johnson begins: "Five weeks ago I said this government would not hang around.

"We wouldn't wait until Brexit day to deliver on the priorities of the British people.

"I am proud to say on Wednesday Chancellor Sajid Javid will set out the biggest spending round in a decade."

The Lib Dems have put their name to the cross-party bill which seeks to block a no-deal Brexit.

"This Bill provides the means to rule out a catastrophic no-deal Brexit," says the Lib Dems Brexit spokesman Tom Brake.

"If passed, it will ensure that Boris Johnson has to seek an extension so that he cannot drag the country off the cliff edge."