THE UK is set to go to the polls on December 12 after MPs backed Boris Johnson's calls for a general election last night.
Boris Johnson saw off Labour and Lib Dem attempts to call the election early after an amendment for a December 9 poll was voted down.
The bill now goes to the House of Lords and if it passes, Brits are going to the ballot boxes.
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COMMONS CLASH
BORIS JOHNSON rejected last-ditch attempts by opposition MPs to give EU nationals and 16 and 17-year-olds the vote during last night's Commons showdown.
The PM turned down the Labour push to extend the franchise – with the Lib Dems and SNP backing Jeremy Corbyn's party's.
A Number 10 spokesman said: “The Government’s position has not changed, we’ve no plans to lower the national voting age.
“18 is widely recognised as the age people become an adult. Below the age of 18 you are treated as a minor in both the foster care system and the criminal justice system.
“Full citizenship rights including voting should be gained at adulthood.”
Up to three million EU nationals would also not be given a a vote on December 12 as there would be “no idea on the cost or logistical burden this could cause”.
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ELECTION FEVER
SEASONS greetings will not be the only thing on the cards this December – that’s right folks, we’re going to have a Christmas(ish) general election
Last night Boris Johnson got his December 12 poll after MPs voted for the PM's election bill on its third reading – 438 to 20.
Mr Johnson saw off Labour and Lib Dem attempts to call the election early after an amendment for a December 9 poll was voted down.
The bill now goes to the House of Lords and if it passes, Brits are going to the ballot boxes.
It comes after Jeremy Corbyn performed a dramatic U-turn to back a call for a national vote.
Mr Corbyn had a change of heart after getting assurances from the EU that a no deal Brexit was “off the table”.
The Labour boss – who three times dodged a Commons vote on the election – said yesterday that he “can’t wait” to take on the Tories at the ballot boxes.
Boris received a boost after a Remainer plot to get 16 and 17-years-olds the right to vote was dismissed in the Commons.
Deputy Speaker Linsday Hoyle did not select an amendment allowing MPs to hold a vote on the matter.
A spokesman for No10 had previously warned lowering the voting age would cause “chaos”.
In an eventful day in Westminster, the PM also restored the whip to a host of Tory rebels, including Winston Churchill’s grandson.
Sir Nicholas Soames was among the 21 MPs sacked by the PM for voting against the government over a possible no deal Brexit.
But last night Boris gave back the whip back to 10 of the expelled MPs.
They are: Richard Benyon, Steve Brine, Alistair Burt, Greg Clark, Stephen Hammond, Richard Harrington, Margot James, Caroline Nokes, Nicholas Soames and Ed Vaizey.
In Brussels, Donald Tusk warned MPs that this may be the last Brexit extension the EU offers Britain.
The European Council President said; “The EU27 has formally adopted the extension. It may be the last one. Please make the best use of this time.”
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