Boris Johnson’s election bid hangs in balance as opposition offer easier route to new elections

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson faces another crunch vote in parliament Monday as he pushes for MPs to support his call for fresh elections on December 12.

Johnson needs a two-thirds majority in the House of Commons in order to override the Fixed Term Parliament Act, passed by the Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition in 2010.

The bill was designed to ensure stability by taking away the power of the incumbent government to call elections on a date of their choice, setting the parliamentary term to five years.

Johnson, whose majority was reduced to 289 after 21 Conservative MPs were expelled from the party for defying the government over Brexit, needs Britain’s opposition to back his call for elections.

Britain’s Labour party has ruled out supporting Johnson until the European Union agrees to extend the UK’s Brexit deadline until January 31, 2020.

Although the EU has supported an extension in principle, it has not said how long it will be.

Boris Johnson’s election bid hangs in balance as opposition offer easier route to new elections