After their failed attempt to get a bigger majority in 2017 the Conservatives haven't wanted another election, and the possibility of letting Corbyn near power scares most of them. This may change particularly if Boris delivers Brexit and/or does a pact with Farage.
This could be very complicated. Let's consider a few scenarios:
- Johnson somehow agrees a deal with the EU, gets it through parliament and delivers brexit. The brexiteers will be livid and the brexit party will accuse Johnson of betrayal. The pro-brexit vote in an election will likely be badly split between the pro-deal tories and the anti-deal brexit party. The anti-brexit parties could do well.
- The UK leaves the EU without a deal, and the tories and the brexit party come to an arrangement. There will potentially be significant disruption to the UK economy at the time of the election, which won't bode well for brexiteers of any persuasion, but at least their vote would be united. Outcome is hard to predict.
- Parliament intervenes and somehow gets an extension agreed with the EU, or forces an election before 31st October. In an election in these circumstances, the pro-brexit camp might do quite well if they can stay united.
In the end, the electorate is likely to vote for anti-brexit parties by a small majority, but how this translates into MPs will depend greatly on how split (or well organised) each block of voters is.
