Support within UK gov't seemingly swinging.......>

UK: Support within UK gov't seemingly swinging behind the Lib Dem/SNP bill to

amend Fixed-Term Parliaments Act (FTPA) and hold election on Dec 9 (see 1228GMT

bullet). 

- In likely event vote under FTPA fails today, tomorrow gov't could support Lib

Dem/SNP one-line bill or introduce its own. 

- Would see Withdrawal Agreement Bill shelved until after the election, with

guarantee that no-deal is ruled out before Jan 31 (new Brexit date as of this

morning). 

- Risk for gov't of one-line bill is that it is amendable, and Labour could seek

to change nature of the election (votes for 16yr olds, attach second

referendum). 

- Some wrangling over date of election. Lib Dems/SNP want 9 Dec as this would

make passing WAB impossible before the election, Conservatives seemingly

advancing 10/11 Dec as this could allow more parliamentary time to get WAB

passed and have a post-Brexit election. 25 working days between dissolution of

parl't and election day.