After the vote, Mr. Johnson said he intended to present a formal request for a general election to lawmakers, who would have to approve the motion.

Details: A majority of lawmakers are determined not to leave the European Union without a deal, which they believe would be disastrous for the country’s economy. The vote suggested they had the numbers — 328 to 301 — to succeed.

Relief from the madness? The accelerating pace of events suggests that Britain’s Brexit nightmare may finally be approaching an endgame after years of paralysis.