Boris Johnson expected to address MPs amid election speculation

Boris Johnson is expected to address MPs amid growing speculation he could press for a snap general election.

The Prime Minister is thought to be preparing to make a Commons intervention following the Queen’s Speech vote on Thursday.

It comes amid signs the EU is set to grant a fresh Brexit delay until the end of January after Mr Johnson was forced – under the terms of the so-called Benn Act – to request a further extension.

He has said that if that happened he would abandon his attempts to get his Brexit deal through Parliament and go for an election instead.

However, under the Fixed-Term Parliaments Act he needs a two-thirds “super majority” of MPs to be able to go the country.

His two previous attempt to do so have been blocked because Labour has refused to support him.

Earlier, shadow chancellor John McDonnell refused to be drawn on what they would do if he made a third attempt.

“We will see what happens. We are trying to take this in stages. We will confront that hurdle when we see it,” he told reporters at Westminster.