The UK is set for a general election before Christmas as Jeremy Corbyn backs December vote

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The UK is set for an election in December after the opposition Labour party said it was now ready to support holding a new vote.

Labour party leader Jeremy Corbyn said that he was willing to back an imminent election, following the EU formally agreeing to delay Brexit until the end of January next year.

"I have consistently said that we are ready for an election and our support is subject to a No Deal Brexit being off the table," he told his Shadow Cabinet on Tuesday.

"We have now heard from the EU that the extension of Article 50 to 31st January has been confirmed, so for the next three months, our condition of taking No Deal off the table has now been met.

"We will now launch the most ambitious and radical campaign for real change our country has ever seen."

The prime minister will bring forward a piece of legislation this evening to allow a vote to be held on December 12. However, opposition parties are seeking to amend the bill for an election to take place in advance of that date.

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