BBC News Channel

The bill for an early general election still has to get through the House of Lords, but the BBC's chief political correspondent Vicki Young says she does not think peers will oppose it.

"I really don't think there'll be much trouble there," she says.

"I think an unelected House of Lords trying to stop a general election that's been approved by the House of Commons is pretty unlikely and with Labour on side I don't see who's going to cause trouble."

Parliament will be dissolved from Wednesday 6 November, the chief political correspondent adds.

Image source, Getty Images

Elections are huge organisational feats. Millions of polling cards have to be distributed. Postal votes need to be sent. And thousands of school halls, churches and community centres have to be booked to be used as polling stations.

The worry is that lots of these locations will already be booked up in mid-December for Christmas events.

There is an enduring idea that the cold and damp December weather will mean voter turnout is lower.

Read more about what a December election could mean.

The prime minister is speaking to backbench Conservative MPs at the 1922 Committee so will not immediately address Parliament.

MPs have approved Boris Johnson's plan to hold a general election on Thursday 12 December by 438 votes to 20.

Legislation to hold the election has now cleared its final stages in the House of Commons and will now go to the House of Lords for consideration - where it is unlikely to be opposed.

Image source, Getty Images

While it's on your mind... here's how to register to vote and how to check whether you're on the electoral register.

House of Commons
Parliament

Having rejected Labour’s amendment to hold an election on 9 December, MPs are now voting on the government’s original bill – for an election on 12 December.

The result is expected in around 10 minutes.

MPs have rejected a Labour amendment to hold an early election on 9 December by 315 votes to 295.

The government wants an election on 12 December.

House of Commons
Parliament

MPs are now voting on a Labour amendment to the bill – also backed by the Lib Dems – to change the election date from 12 to 9 December.

The result is expected in around 10 minutes' time.

BBC News Channel

Rebel MP Ed Vaizey, who has been welcomed back into the Tory Party tonight, says he hopes the other 11 MPs who are still expelled will be invited back.

Mr Vaizey says Prime Minister Boris Johnson summoned him to his office earlier this evening and told him he wanted to unify the party. He then offered him the whip back.

"Clearly with an election around the corner that's helpful," Mr Vaizey says.

"It was a good natured discussion."

He says the MPs who had been welcomed back to the party were those who had voted with the government in recent weeks.

"I voted against the government specifically on one issue, which was to stop no deal," Mr Vaizey says.

"I wasn't interested in having fights with the government on other issues.

"Others I hope will get the whip back, but at the moment the government's playing slightly harder ball."

Ten MPs previously expelled from the parliamentary Conservative Party have had the whip restored. Here's how it's impacted the state of the parties:

Read the story in full here.