Lib Dems ready for general election
The Liberal Democrats in Gloucester are ready and waiting for a general election - but only after a no deal Brexit is off the table.
MPs look set to vote again on Monday in Parliament on whether to have a general election before the UK is scheduled to leave the European Union on October 31.
UK opposition parties have agreed not to back Prime Minister Boris Johnson's demand for an election before the EU summit in mid-October.
Labour, the Lib Dems, the SNP and Plaid Cymru say they will vote against the Government or abstain in Monday's vote on whether to hold a snap poll.
A bill designed to prevent a no deal Brexit has been approved by the House of Lords and will pass into law.
It will force the Prime Minister to ask the EU for the Brexit deadline to be extended beyond October 31 if no deal is agreed by the UK and Brussels by October 19.
Mr Johnson wants an election to take place on October 15, ahead of that date and the EU summit on October 17 and 18.
Dr Rebecca Trimnell, Liberal Democrat Parliamentary candidate for Gloucester, said: "I would welcome the announcement of a general election as long as we know for sure that a no deal Brexit has been taken off the table.
"The Conservative Government has shown it is no longer fit to govern and if they can't agree to a People's Vote, then, it is vital the decision is taken back to the people in the form of a general election.
"The Brexit chaos has changed politics considerably and it is now no longer about whether people vote for the traditional two parties.
"The days of the only choice being between Jeremy Corbyn's Labour or Boris Johnson's Conservatives are over.
"Like it or not a forthcoming general election will be the Brexit election.
"It will only be after we have sorted out the Brexit shambles that we will be able to focus on other important issues such as the NHS, education, employment, housing and climate change.
"In Gloucester the Liberal Democrats are the strongest Remain party - and recent council by-election, EU election and the county council election results prove this.
"In the EU referendum 42% of residents across Gloucester voted remain.
"I am therefore calling on all remain voters back in 2016 to vote for me as the next MP for Gloucester at the next general election."