BBC News Channel

BBC assistant political editor Norman Smith said some Labour MPs would feel unease about supporting an election.

One of those MPs is Ben Bradshaw - he says it is a “bad mistake” by the leadership and it is “not too late to go down an alternative path”.

The former cabinet minister tells the BBC an election is not a “democratically legitimate” way of resolving Brexit and what is needed instead is a referendum.

He says Parliament’s approval is “not a done deal” and he would support 16 and 17-year-olds being given the vote, even if it meant delaying the election until early next year.

However, he adds that if the Commons agree to the poll, he and other sceptics would rally round and campaign with “our hearts and souls” for a Labour government and for the public to be given the final say on Brexit in the form of a so-called People’s Vote.

While Labour says it wants the voting age to be lowered for any upcoming general election (and is also calling for some EU citizens to be able to vote), the party is backing an election "no ifs and no buts".

Meanwhile, former Scottish Conservatives leader Ruth Davidson is reportedly ready to ditch her new lobbying job following criticism.

Ms Davidson was appointed as a senior adviser to PR firm Tulchan Communications - for which she was due to be paid £50,000 for 25 days' work a year, on top of her MSP salary of £63,579.

Iain Watson
Political correspondent

Iain Watson, the BBC’s political correspondent, said a December election is now "all but inevitable" with the backing of the Labour party.

He revealed that prior to a meeting of the shadow cabinet, one member said it would "look ridiculous" for Labour to back an election after "more minor parties" like the Lib Dems and SNP.

He said: “If you have the SNP, the Liberal Democrats and the bulk of Labour MPs getting behind the shadow cabinet, it looks like that December election is all but inevitable.”

However, another shadow cabinet source said some Labour MPs may not support its resolution, calling them “simply un-whippable".

“They [some Labour MPs] do not want to see an early general election, some of them because Labour is behind in the polls; others think if they don’t give Boris Johnson an early general election, perhaps they could still hold out for a confirmatory ballot for a referendum.”

Liberal Democrat shadow foreign secretary Chuka Umunna has denied claims the party lobbied the speaker not to select Labour amendments demanding votes for 16 year olds and EU citizens.

"This is categorically untrue. We have always supported Votes at 16 and for EU citizens," he tweeted.

House of Commons
Parliament

Image source, HoC

The day in the House of Commons has begun, but MPs won't be debating the early election bill yet.

First, Health Secretary Matt Hancock takes questions from MPs, then Labour's Laura Pidcock will ask an urgent question about workers' rights.

The debate on an early election is expected at around 13:30 GMT.

Image source, HoC

"We will be doing it for millions of people out there," says Jeremy Corbyn, appearing with his shadow cabinet.

"We will be doing it for a more equal country.

"I am absolutely delighted and proud to lead our party in this great endeavour.

"Let's win it."

"We are ready for an election," says Jeremy Corbyn

"We are going to go out there with a very strong message of how to transform our society.

"We always said we wanted an eleciton but we wanted no deal be taken off the table.

"We now have confirmation from the EU states that no deal is off the table.

"So we are going to go out there with the biggest campaign this party has ever mounted."

Laura Kuenssberg
BBC political editor

Now it is on.

The Labour leader has just issued a statement pressing the button on his election campaign.

In a couple of sentences, giving Boris Johnson the election he craves.

There may still be wrangling about the dates.

Labour and the smaller opposition parties might still have a battle with the government in Parliament this afternoon over when the best or worst time is to ask all of us to go to the ballot boxes.

But Labour has, against the wishes of many of its MPs, shifted to supporting a December election and with that, it means we are on for the first December general election in decades.

Read more from Laura here.

Norman Smith
Assistant political editor

If you talk to pro-Corbyn MPs, they take the view that as a campaigner Jeremy Corbyn - the party's leader - has the ability to turn around the polls. They are gung-ho.

But, if you talk to Corbyn sceptics they are deeply wary about where this is leading.

They will vote for this election with deep, deep misgivings.

BBC political correspondent Nick Eardley reports Labour is pushing for a change in the voting age, as well as voting rights for some EU citizens.

And the Sun's political editor Tom Newton-Dunn says Labour's demands could yet be a spanner in the works.

BBC News Channel

Asked if he supports votes for 16 and 17- year-olds, Lib Dem Tom Brake says: "The difficulty is how do you ensure 16 and 17-year-olds are able to take part in an election by 9, 10, 11 December.

"It is not clear to me that it would be physically possible to achieve that."

House of Commons
Parliament

At 12:40 GMT Labour's Laura Pidcock will ask Business Secretary Andrea Leadsom to make a statement on the government’s plans for workers’ rights after the UK leaves the EU.

This means debate of the early election bill is due to start at around 13:30.

"We will be pushing to get votes for 16-year-olds," says Labour's Richard Burgon.

"We will be pushing to allow EU nationals, who can vote in other elections, to vote in this general election.

"Even if we don’t get those things we want, when push comes to shove, we are going to support an election."