London, Sep 3 (TIWN) British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Monday night outside 10 Downing Street that there are no circumstances in which he will ask the European Union (EU) to delay his country's departure from the bloc.

In a defiant message, he said he wanted "everybody to know we are leaving on 31 October, no ifs or buts."

Despite frenzied media speculation that Johnson would announce calling or threatening to call a snap general election, Johnson said he did not want an election.

Instead, he issued a plea urging rebel Conservative MPs not to block Britain's chances of leaving the EU without a deal.

Johnson was speaking after an emergency cabinet meeting at Number 10 to discuss his Brexit strategy.

Just before Johnson's statement, Hilary Benn, the veteran Labour politician who chairs the House of Commons Brexit committee, gave details of a bill MPs will present when parliament reopens on Tuesday after the long summer recess.

The bill is aimed at rushing a law through the British parliament to prevent Johnson from taking Britain out of the EU without a deal. It would also pave the way for extending the Brexit deadline to Jan. 31, 2020.

In his address, Johnson said as the Brexit October deadline nears he is encouraged by the progress the government is making.

"In the last few weeks the chances of a deal have been rising, I believe, for three reasons. They (the EU) can see that we want a deal. And they can see that we are utterly determined to strengthen our position by getting ready to come out regardless, come what may."