The prime minister has left Downing Street to head to the Commons ahead of the debate on his motion for a general election.

SNP MP Angus Brendan MacNeil confirms he "won't vote for a general election" saying it would be "giving Boris Johnson a Christmas present".

He says he had been "with" his team on their "Thursday night view which was don't give Boris Johnson any presents" but that the "Saturday night view unfortunately changed" to offer, with the Lib Dems, an election three days earlier than Mr Johnson had asked for

Mr MacNeil describes this as giving the prime minister "his birthday and his Christmas together".

People's Vote campaign media chief Tom Baldwin is at odds with chairman Roland Rudd over strategy.

MPs voted in favour of the government's Brexit deal but then rejected the PM's plan to fast-track a bill through Parliament to implement it.

Opposition to the deal is still strong in some quarters.

Northern Ireland’s DUP withdrew its support for because it would lead to a customs border in the Irish Sea. The Scottish and Welsh governments believe it could undermine the powers of their devolved legislatures.

So what could this deal mean for the future of the United Kingdom? And what might it mean for the future relationship between the UK and the EU? And could Brexit still be derailed by groups which are implacably opposed to it?

David Aaronovitch is joined by:

Jill Rutter - Senior Research Fellow, UK in a Changing Europe Rob Ford - Professor of Politics, University of Manchester Sam Lowe - Senior research fellow, Centre for European Reform Alison Young - Professor of Public Law, University of Cambridge Sam McBride - Political editor at The Belfast News Letter

Producer: Serena Tarling Editor: Jasper Corbett

Catherine McGuinness, policy chair at the City of London Corporation, has given the Brexit extension a cautious welcome. She said:

Katya Adler
Europe Editor

The EU has finally announced its informal approval of a new Brexit extension - but what an excruciatingly long and confusing political dance to get there. And the dance is not over yet.

To become a formal offer, the Brexit extension still needs to be accepted by UK PM Boris Johnson. This is EU law and an unavoidable part of the procedure.

But how uncomfortable for the prime minister, who sought to distance himself as much as possible from the extension, previously promising that he would rather die in a ditch than request one.

The EU is also attaching some extra wording to the extension - including a reminder for the UK that, until it leaves, it remains a fully paid up member of the EU, including all the rights and obligations that go along with membership.

After the extension has been signed off this week, Brussels will watch, arms folded from the sidelines as the next moves are decided in Westminster.

Read more.

Image source, Government advert

Brexit has been delayed again, despite Boris Johnson’s repeated pledges that the UK would leave the EU on 31 October – this Thursday.

Over the past few weeks, the government has spent millions of pounds of taxpayers’ money on a Brexit public information campaign which has said that Brexit will happen on 31 October.

As well as buying physical billboards and ads on TV and radio, the government has also spent a lot of money on Facebook adverts.

Last year Facebook introduced a public library which means you can see which political ads are being shown to UK users.

Looking in the archive this afternoon reveals there are still lots of active ads repeating the date – 31 October – which we now know has effectively been ruled out.

The group's media chief accuses its chairman of taking "a wrecking ball" to the campaign.

Brexitcast's Adam Fleming explains what will happen to people working, volunteering or studying in the UK - and British people in the EU and how the length of the transition period will affect their rights.

Image: Brexitcast postcard Credit: BBC

Image source, PA Media

Labour MP John Mann is leaving the House of Commons after 18 years to become a member of the House of Lords.

In July, he was appointed to head a government inquiry on tackling anti-Semitism by outgoing PM Theresa May.

Mr Mann chaired a cross-party parliamentary group on anti-Semitism and has been a frequent critic of Mr Corbyn's handling of the issue.

His departure could trigger a by-election in his Nottinghamshire constituency of Bassetlaw.

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Image source, PA Media

Independent Group for Change leader Anna Soubry has criticised the Lib Dems and SNP for putting forward their own plans for an early election on 9 December.

In a message to party supporters, the ex-Conservative MP has accused them of having "turned their back" on the People’s Vote campaign for a further Brexit referendum.

An early election, she says, will "resolve nothing," adding that another EU referendum is the "only way out of the Brexit crisis".

"I am sorry to say that old style, selfish, tribal party politics is at play," she adds.

The Independent Group for Change is made up five of former Conservative and Labour MPs.

Peter Saull
Political Reporter, BBC News

The Electoral Reform Society (ERS) is warning that a snap election risks being undermined by “dark ads and dodgy donations” unless emergency legislation is passed.

The organisation says there are a “litany of loopholes” that put the chances of a free and fair election at risk.

The ERS is calling for action on donations, online advertising and voter registration.

Its chief executive, Darren Hughes, wants politicians to make “simple changes” to update “our analogue-age election rules.”

The BBC's Katya Adler looks at how the EU reached its decision to grant the UK a Brexit extension.

MPs are deciding whether the UK should have a third election in just four years.

House of Commons
Parliament

We're expecting a debate on the PM's election call to get under way around 17.30 GMT, with the vote taking place sometime after 19.00 GMT.

Business in the Commons has just begun, however, with questions to Home Secretary Priti Patel.

After this there will be ministerial statements on the Essex lorry deaths, and government plans to improve broadband coverage in rural areas.

Hello and welcome to our live coverage, as MPs prepare to vote on proposals by Boris Johnson for an early general election on 12 December.

Under the Fixed-Term Parliaments Act, the motion to hold an early election requires two-thirds of MPs to support it, meaning how Labour decides to vote will be crucial.

The Lib Dems and the SNP have also put forward an alternative plan to pass legislation to get an election on 9 December, with the government saying they will table a similar bill if their plan is voted down.

It comes as EU leaders have agreed in principle to extend Brexit until 31 January 2020 - meaning the UK will not leave as planned on Thursday.