MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Johnson proposes Parliament time to scrutinize his Brexit deal for a snap election on 12 December

Johnson is vehemently opposed to delaying Britain's exit from the European Union a third time this year but has been forced by parliament to request a delay.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Thursday offered parliament more time to scrutinize his Brexit deal if it agrees to hold a snap general election on Dec 12. The premier suspended debates on his EU divorce deal after MPs on Tuesday refused to rush it through parliament in time for the Oct 31 Brexit deadline.

Johnson is vehemently opposed to delaying Britain's exit from the European Union a third time this year but has been forced by parliament to request a delay.

Lawmakers on Tuesday gave their support “in principle” for the agreement - but voted down the proposed timetable.

It had been the first time that the House of Commons had backed any Brexit proposal since the 2016 EU referendum. The EU is expected to agree the length of a Brexit deadline extension this Friday.

Johnson has asked the EU for a three-month delay that could be cut short in case of a breakthrough that finally sees the deal approved by MPs.

Johnson said on Thursday that the only way to make real progress now was by MPs agreeing to a general election.

“If they genuinely want more time to study this excellent deal, they can have it - but they have to agree on a general election on Dec 12,” he said.

“It's time, frankly, that the opposition summoned up the nerve to submit themselves to the judgment of our collective boss, which is the people of the UK.”

The main opposition Labour Party has previously refused to back snap polls until the possibility of a chaotic “no-deal” Brexit on Oct 31 has been firmly ruled out.

The party's parliamentary business spokeswoman Valerie Vaz reaffirmed that position in parliament - to jeers from Conservative MPs.

“The Labour Party will back an election once no deal is ruled out and if the extension allows,” Vaz said.

Two-thirds of MPs must vote in favor of an early election and Johnson is currently running a minority government.

Passing his Brexit legislation would rely on the shaky support of ousted Conservatives and Labour rebels, largely representing Brexit-supporting constituencies.

Top Labour Party members fear early polls because of Johnson's relatively high public approval ratings. Instead, they have pushed leader Jeremy Corbyn to support holding a second Brexit referendum.

The Britain Elects poll aggregator puts Johnson's Conservatives on 35%, Labour on 25%, the Liberal Democrats on 18%, the Brexit Party on 11% and Greens 4%.

Some members of Johnson's cabinet and advisers have also reportedly expressed reservations about an election held soon after another Brexit delay - a prospect that Johnson had repeatedly ruled out.

The row over Brexit overshadowed a symbolic win for Johnson on Thursday, with MPs voting in favor of his government's annual legislative program by 310 to 294 votes.