Today Programme
BBC Radio 4

A fierce critic of Theresa May's withdrawal agreement says Boris Johnson would have to do more than just solve the Irish backstop issue to garner support for a Brexit deal.

Pro-Brexit Tory MP Andrew Bridgen said if the only change Mr Johnson made to the deal was to remove the backstop plan, it would "probably not" be enough to persuade him to vote for it.

He's previously said the UK has nothing to fear over a no-deal Brexit.

BBC News Channel

Hold tight as political analyst Professor Sir John Curtice explains how the timing of an election could affect the opposition parties' chance of success.

He says the bill which is currently going through Parliament does not rule out a no-deal Brexit on its own - but gives the House of Commons the opportunity on 19 October to rule out no-deal if the PM has not struck a deal by then.

"Therefore the argument is whether or not you need to delay the election so that the House of Commons is still sitting on 19 October and therefore the provisions of the bill could be used to stop a no-deal Brexit," Sir John says.

"In that event, you're basically talking at an election not taking place earlier than five weeks after that so you're looking towards the tail end of November. That's the argument that's going inside the Labour Party and the SNP for delaying."

But he adds: "The argument on the other side [within the opposition parties] is if Boris Johnson does come back from the European Council with a deal and can get it through the House of Commons then you will be giving an opportunity to have an election just after having had his success in getting us outside the EU.

"It's the tension between those two things, the opposition is trying to work out.

"The safest thing for the opposition to do from their point of view is simply to say no to an election now and wait to see what happens on 19 October and then facilitate an election if it seems to be in their interest."

Norman Smith
Assistant political editor

The chancellor denies his £13bn package of spending promises – unveiled yesterday – is an election bribe.

Sajid Javid described the promises of extra cash for the police, NHS and schools as “very prudent spending”.

He says the sums are “easily affordable” because the fundamentals of the economy are strong.

Today Programme
BBC Radio 4

The chancellor refuses to put a figure on the cost to the UK of a no-deal Brexit.

Sajid Javid says previous figures from the Treasury and the Bank of England were mere "assumptions" based on "uncertainties", rather than accurate forecasts.

The former chancellor Philip Hammond has said a no-deal Brexit could cost the UK up to £90bn.

But Mr Javid tells the Today programme: "There are so many factors that go into that I don't think anyone can put a reliable figure on what the impact may or may not be."

He also says businesses across the country are more concerned about the prospect of a Labour government than about the consequences of a no-deal Brexit.

It's important to leave the EU without "dithering" to stop the uncertainty from having a negative impact on the economy, he adds.

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has said he will back a general election once the legislation to exclude the possibility of a no-deal Brexit has landed on the statute book.

Depending on the progress in the Lords, that could mean Boris Johnson gets his way to have an election on 15 October.

Will the PM get his breakneck timetable?

Read Laura's blog here.

Image source, Getty Images

The PM says he wants an election on 15 October, two days before a crucial European Union summit in Brussels.

Could an early election happen, and if so, how?

Read more here.

MPs have voted on a bill aimed at avoiding a no-deal Brexit, and a bid to bring a snap general election.

But how did yours vote?

Click here to use our search tools.

Today Programme
BBC Radio 4

Image source, Getty Images

Boris Johnson has criticised Labour, and particularly its leader Jeremy Corbyn for not backing a general election now.

But MPs do not trust the prime minister to hold an election before Brexit, because he has the power to change the date and force a no-deal exit from the EU through, John McDonnell says.

"We would have handed over the power to determine that election date and some people were worried once you do that, he could push us beyond 31 October and we could be into a no-deal Brexit," the shadow chancellor says.

"We can't trust him - and it's not just me, it's his own side," he adds.

Responding to suggestions the Labour Party is "cowardly" to avoid an election, the shadow chancellor insists his party does want to go to the polls - once a no-deal Brexit is taken off the table.

Today Programme
BBC Radio 4

The prime minister must be treated like a child, the shadow chancellor says.

"It's like dealing with a two- or three-year-old having their tantrum," John McDonnell told the Today programme.

He describes the opposition parties as "the adult in the room" for coming together to defy Mr Johnson and stop a no-deal Brexit.

Image source, UK Parliament

The SNP wants a general election "as quickly as possible" - but only after legislation to prevent a no-deal Brexit is secure.

The party is "very keen" for the process to be taken "back to the people", Drew Hendry, business spokesperson for the SNP, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme.

But he added: "It's absolutely vital that we don't allow Boris Johnson and his government to game the system and somehow find a way of making us crash out with a no deal on 31 October."

Today Programme
BBC Radio 4

When might MPs vote in favour of holding an election?

The Liberal Democrats look set to wait until a formal delay to Brexit to stop a no-deal exit has been agreed by the EU before they support a general election, a senior member of the party says.

The Lib Dem leader in the House of Lords, Lord Newby, says: "I think you've got to hold out until we know that no deal has been taken off the table. And we can't do that until a letter has gone to the Council and the EU Council has given us an extension."

He adds any other course would be "really foolish" because "we can't trust the government".

Image source, Alamy

“I don’t want an election, you don’t want an election” – Boris Johnson told the public he would rather not go to the polls before Brexit – but that he might have to if MPs rebelled against him

“An apple to Snow White from the wicked queen” – Jeremy Corbyn’s description of Boris Johnson’s offer of a snap election

“Sit up man!” – Jacob Rees-Mogg was chastised for reclining across seats in the Commons

“Fight of a lifetime” – what Philip Hammond said his reaction would be if Downing Street tried to stop him from standing as a Tory at the next election

"You're asking me about a pig in a poke!" – this particular gem came from Michael Gove at the weekend, when questioned about his plans for a no-deal Brexit. The 16th Century phrasecan be explained here