THE Brexit process is at an impasse after the EU said it is postponing its decision over a possible extension to Article 50 until after MPs vote next week on whether to hold a general election.

PM Boris Johnson is refusing to allow MPs more time to consider his withdrawal agreement Bill — which passed at second reading last Tuesday — until they agree to his idea of holding an election on December 12.

Labour, the SNP and the Lib Dems are refusing to agree to a general election until Mr Johnson “takes no deal off the table” and until the EU grants a Brexit extension.

Mr Johnson is relying on Labour MPs to vote for a general election as he needs two thirds of MPs to vote in favour, stipulated by the Fixed-term Parliaments Act, for an election to take place.

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn told ITV’s This Morning that an election on December 12 would be “really odd so near Christmas.”

He said he was ready for another election, but added: “We’ve got to get no deal taken off the table first.”

Speaking on his eighth visit to a hospital since becoming PM in July, Mr Johnson urged Mr Corbyn to back an election and added that Labour was “split from top to bottom” on whether to hold one.

“We have got Momentum, who are the communists who back part of the Jeremy Corbyn enterprise, saying they want an election,” he claimed.

“And then you have got loads of MPs led by guys like Keir Starmer and Tom Watson who don’t seem to want an election.”

Mr Johnson insisted Britain could still leave the EU on October 31, which is next Thursday, but admitted that after his request of an extension under the Benn Act it “unfortunately depends on what the EU say.”

EU’s chief negotiator Michel Barnier said the EU27 had not yet been able to decide on the length of the next Brexit delay, though it is understood there is full agreement on the need for an extension.

They were expected to announce a decision on Friday but postponed it, and are said to be meeting again on Monday or Tuesday to finalise an agreement.