THE European Union has agreed to push back Brexit until January 31, 2020, at the latest.

European Council president Donald Tusk announced this morning the EU had agreed to the 'flextension' - meaning the UK could leave earlier if a deal is agreed by Parliament.

This comes as MPs are due to vote later on Boris Johnson's call for a General Election on December 12. But the motion is predicted to be defeated as it requires at least two thirds of MPs to back it.

The prime minister has said in the past that he would prefer to be "dead in a ditch" than miss the October 31 deadline.

Mr Tusk tweeted: "The EU27 has agreed that it will accept the UK's request for a #Brexit flextension until 31 January 2020.

"The decision is expected to be formalised through a written procedure."

The announcement will pile pressure on opposition parties to decide whether to back a pre-Christmas general election.

Labour has said it will only back the move if Mr Johnson makes "absolutely clear" that no-deal is off the table and a January extension is granted.

But the Liberal Democrats and SNP have put forward a tightly-drafted Bill that would grant an election on December 9 - three days earlier than the PM's suggested polling date - as long as the European Union grants an extension until January 31.

"And because people can't trust what this man says, I think setting that date in law is a very good idea," she told Today.

She said there are various reasons why December 9 makes more sense than December 12 for an election.

"Clearly, it's three further days away from Christmas and I understand that the public appetite for an election around Christmas is not necessarily high so I think, from the point of view of the economy and retailers, keeping it as far away as possible is helpful.

"What waiting would do is risk no-deal, because if we waste this extension and we end up in January with that January 31 deadline looming, assuming it is granted today, and we haven't done anything with this time, then there's no guarantee the EU will extend again and then no-deal is back on the table."

The prime minister's election bid later today, to be made under the Fixed-Term Parliaments Act (FTPA), would require a two-thirds Commons majority - 434 MPs - to agree to an election on December 12.

Lib Dem leader Jo Swinson said her proposal ties Mr Johnson's hands over the election date and does not give him the "wriggle room" that his own plan would have.