Wednesday morning news briefing: Boris Johnson's Christmas election gift

Corbyn bows to PM's demands for vote to clear Brexit impasse

It is on. Britain will go to the polls on Thursday, December 12 after MPs finally answered Boris Johnson's call to end Parliament's "stasis" at the fourth time of asking. Jeremy Corbyn caved in to pressure to accept an early election after Tory MPs said he had "run out of excuses" for opposing one. Just 24 hours after the Commons rejected an early election, MPs voted by 438 to 20 in favour of the first December public vote since 1923. Search for how your MP voted. The 25-day election campaign is due to officially begin next week after Parliament is dissolved. After Jeremy Corbyn was accused of leading his party to disaster, James Rothwell looks at how the Brexit Party aims to wipe out Labour heartlands by opening the door to an electoral pact with the Tories. And Matt finds a positive impact an election will have on Christmas in today's cartoon.

Governments traditionally hold elections on Thursdays in the spring, believing it gives them the best chance of re-election. But going to the country on a damp December day could actually be a boon for the Tories and see them secure a majority. Tony Diver explains the cold, hard truths that dispel the myths about a winter poll. And our election tracker has the latest odds and polls.

Grenfell: 'My boy would be alive if I'd not listened to firefighters'

The father of a five-year-old boy who died in the Grenfell disaster has called for the London Fire Brigade chief to step down immediately or be held "to account" for its failures. Paulos Tekle - whose son Isaac Paulos perished after a firefighter lost him in the smoke-filled stairwell - said he feels "betrayed" that Dany Cotton has not faced any consequences for the LFB's handling of the blaze. "If I had not listened to the fire brigade, my son would have likely been alive today," he said. The official report on the disaster, to be published this morning, has accused the LFB of "systemic failures" in its response. Jack Hardy explains the key issues.

'Think yourself thin': Smartphone app retrains the brain

Brain training on smartphones could help dieters to resist temptation, research suggests. Experts reviewed several studies and found that using online games to boost willpower can help cut 200 calories a day. The "go/no-go" method involves schooling individuals to alter their responses to unhealthy foods. AsLaura Donnelly reports, studies found that doing the online exercises for as little as 10 minutes a week over a month was enough to boost weight loss efforts.

News digest

• Diesel driven out | Bristol set to impose UK's first city centre car ban

• Drug 'poisoning' | Trials age gap sees elderly patients given overdoses

• Colonial past | Slavery historian to examine if university should apologise

• 'Speed-watch' | Netflix faces backlash over TV trial for time-poor viewers

• Great British Bake Off | Final serves up winner who was never 'Star Baker'

Gallery: The big picture

In the line of fire | A Warrior armoured vehicle powers through an explosion during the Army "combat power" demonstration of the latest technology used by the Armed Forces on operations across the globe. Browse more of our picture editor's selection of the best images from around the world.

Comment

• Sherelle Jacobs | At last, this pathetic parliament faces its payback

• Philip Johnston | PM's worst week? No, it is Labour facing calamity

• Michael Deacon | Labour's about-turn brings cheers of Tory delight

• Allison Pearson | Tickbox Britain - where common sense goes to die

• William Sitwell | Carnivore's supermarket tour much more appetising

Editor's choice

1. Couture comes to the high street | Rare interview with Giambattista Valli

2. Homes afloat | 'Within minutes, the water was car-door deep and gushing in'

3. World's friendliest country? | For Telegraph readers, one nation stands out

Business and money briefing

Opioid crisis | City insurers are braced for a wave of legal battles over the £39 billion US opioid crisis - sparking bitter memories of the asbestos payouts that almost destroyed the Lloyd's of London market in the Nineties. Harriet Russell explains how insurance companies provide cover for drug makers.

• The Think Tank | The chance to define what counts as sensible borrowing

• Investment tip | Even at 30 times earnings, a buy for market dominance

• Stay on top of the markets | Live stocks and shares updates 24 hours a day

Sport briefing

Rugby World Cup | The cash-strapped Rugby Football Union is facing a bill of more than £6 million for bonuses if England win the final against South Africa on Saturday. Gavin Mairs reports how the RFU opted against taking out an insurance policy to cover payouts that would be due to players.

• Austin Healey | England v South Africa: Which team has the edge?

• Final tickets | Demand soars as rugby fans warned to avoid touts

• Harvey Elliott | Youngest Liverpool player ever to appear at Anfield

And finally...

Royal exchange | Few would be so bold as to refuse to answer a question from the Queen. But when Her Majesty first met Angela Kelly, a Liverpudlian docker's daughter working as a housekeeper at the British ambassador's residence in Berlin, their unusual exchange would prove pivotal for both. As Victoria Ward reports, soon after she received a call to say that the Queen had asked if she would come to work at Buckingham Palace as her assistant dresser.