The government has threatened to paralyse parliament with rolling votes on whether to have a general election if opposition parties refuse to back a December 12 snap poll.

Chancellor Sajid Javid said the government will push for an election “again and again” once Boris Johnson’s “do or die” pledge to deliver Brexit by October 31 is broken, which is expected as early as today if the EU agrees to a request for a delay.

The prime minister said on Thursday he would give parliament more time to debate his Brexit deal, on the condition it voted in favour of an election before Christmas.

But Labour signalled on Friday morning it would only back a snap poll if Johnson explicitly ruled out a no-deal Brexit, suggesting this may require legislation.

Javid, who has seen his November 6 Budget cancelled following Johnson’s offer, suggested the government could abandon its Brexit withdrawal agreement bill (WAB) and planned legislation set out in the Queen’s Speech which passed the Commons yesterday if MPs refuse an election.

Following Downing Street briefings that Johnson would do the “bare minimum” in parliament if his election plan is rejected, Javid told BBC Radio 4′s Today programme: “The opposition have said, week after week, that if there is a delay of three months, which is what they requested through parliament, then they will vote for a general election, so let’s see if they keep their word.

“And if they don’t then we will keep bringing back to parliament a motion to have an election.

“And we will keep doing that again and again.”

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He added: “As for other parliamentary business, we’ll have to wait and see what that is, and we will react to it at that time.

“But the most important issue is to get Brexit done, and to have that general election.”

Shadow home secretary Diane Abbott said Labour needs an “explicit commitment” that a no-deal Brexit is ruled out before backing an election.

She told the Today programme: “The Labour party is definitely up for an election, but there are two things we need to know.

“One is what sort of extension the EU is going to give and as you say we won’t know until Monday.”

Abbott said they also want to hear from the prime minister that he will take no deal off the table. 

“But be in no doubt, party members, and the party as a whole, is ready for and keen for an election,” she said.

Abbott said the “explicit commitment” ruling out no deal may mean further legislation in Parliament.

She also said offers from Johnson are “not worth the paper they’re written on”.

Abbott added: “The December day is a ludicrous day. We’ve not had a general election at Christmas for over a century, and there’s good reasons for that.”