Britain's Parliament has been suspended for five weeks after a night of drama in which MPs again rejected Prime Minister Boris Johnson's attempts to force a snap election.

Key points: Suspending Parliament will limit opposing MPs' ability to block Mr Johnson's plans for Brexit

Suspending Parliament will limit opposing MPs' ability to block Mr Johnson's plans for Brexit MPs are trying to stop a no-deal Brexit, and some have branded the suspension a "coup"

MPs are trying to stop a no-deal Brexit, and some have branded the suspension a "coup" Boris Johnson had asked MPs to back his call for a snap election in order to break the deadlock

More than two-thirds of the Parliament, or 434 MPs, were needed to back the motion calling a general election, but that figure was well short after Labour and other opposition parties chose to abstain from voting.

It was the sixth major defeat for the Prime Minister in just his fifth day in the House of Commons.

MPs will now be sent home and Parliament suspended, or prorogued, until October 14 — just two weeks before the October 31 Brexit deadline.

Earlier in the day new legislation that will force Mr Johnson to head to Brussels to seek a Brexit delay until January 2020, unless a deal or no-deal Brexit is approved by MPs by October 19, was passed into law.

Last Friday Mr Johnson said he would rather die in a ditch than head back to Brussels to seek an extension.

Space to play or pause, M to mute, left and right arrows to seek, up and down arrows for volume. Watch Duration: 31 seconds 31 s The House of Commons has voted down a second motion calling for a snap election.

Speaking in the House after losing the election vote on Monday night, Mr Johnson pledged to "press on with negotiating a deal, while preparing to leave without one" on October 31.

He said he would head to Brussels for a European Union summit on October 17 "and no matter how many devices this Parliament invents to tie my hands, I will strive to get an agreement in the national interest".

"This Government will not delay Brexit any further."

The suspension of Parliament will stop MPs from passing new laws in opposition to Mr Johnson's Brexit stance, and some MPs trying to stop a no-deal Brexit have branded it a "coup". It is being challenged in court by opponents who say it is anti-democratic and illegal.

Space to play or pause, M to mute, left and right arrows to seek, up and down arrows for volume. Watch Duration: 1 minute 44 seconds 1 m 44 s Scottish MPs sang Scots Wha Hae in protest.

Wrapping up proceedings in the House, Speaker John Bercow, who earlier announced that he would be standing down, branded the suspension of Parliament "an act of executive fiat".

Scottish and Welsh MPs, opposed to the prorogation proceedings, protested in the House by singing tunes including Scots Wha Hae.

"The Welsh members also gave us a beautiful song. With harmony!" Scottish National Party politician Hannah Bardell tweeted.

Opponents of the suspension have dubbed the move a "coup". ( Reuters: UK Parliament/Roger Harris )

Double blow for Johnson

Mr Johnson's other defeat on Monday came when MPs voted 311 to 302 to force the Government to publish documents relating to its secret no-deal planning, as well as private emails and messages from Downing Street officials about prorogation.

The motion was put forward by former attorney-general Dominic Grieve, a Conservative MP who was sacked by the party last week for backing the bill opposing a no-deal Brexit.

Mr Grieve said he wanted the information after public officials told him they believed "the handling of this matter smacked of scandal".

"There have been a number of indications that the Government has not been forthright and clear about their reasons for prorogation," Mr Grieve told the BBC.

Last week Government documents emerged suggesting Mr Johnson had agreed to suspend Parliament two weeks before announcing the proroguing.

"After that it started to become apparent that there was no official in Whitehall who was prepared to swear an affidavit explaining how the Government had come about deciding to prorogue," Mr Grieve said.

"Once that happened, information started to leak out to MPs suggesting in fact there had been a plan — a plot you might call it — in order to prorogue Parliament and marginalise it and prevent it interfering with a no-deal Brexit and that that was in contemplation by the middle of August if not earlier."

The Government has said it was "disappointed" the bill passed.

"We will consider the implications of this vote and respond in due course," a spokesperson said.

Backstop issue unresolved

During a press conference with Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar in Dublin earlier on Monday, Mr Johnson did not explain how the longstanding Brexit stalemate could be broken in a way that satisfied the other 27 EU leaders and would win backing in Britain's Parliament, where his party no longer has a working majority.

He said a deal on the Irish border question could be secured in time to enable a smooth divorce from the EU.

Space to play or pause, M to mute, left and right arrows to seek, up and down arrows for volume. Watch Duration: 20 seconds 20 s Leo Varadkar said Britain had not produced any realistic alternatives (Photo: AP).

Mr Varadkar said Britain had not produced any realistic alternatives to the controversial "backstop" agreement reached by Mr Johnson's predecessor, Theresa May.

Opposition to the backstop was a key reason why Britain's Parliament rejected Mrs May's Brexit deal with the EU on three occasions earlier this year.

The backstop, which has emerged as the main stumbling block to an agreement, is intended to make sure that no hard border is put up between EU member Ireland and Northern Ireland, which is part of the UK.

Mr Varadkar said a no-deal departure would cause severe economic problems for Ireland.

He said the EU did not want another extension of the October 31 deadline, but was willing to consider one if it was requested.

The Irish leader said more negotiations were needed and the Good Friday peace agreement, which states that no hard border is re-imposed on the island of Ireland, must be respected.

Controversial Speaker announces resignation

Mr Bercow, the House of Commons Speaker who played a key role in the three-year Brexit crisis, said he would stand down from the role, issuing a warning to the Government not to "degrade" Parliament.

Space to play or pause, M to mute, left and right arrows to seek, up and down arrows for volume. Watch Duration: 43 seconds 43 s Speaker John Bercow announces his resignation (Photo: AP).

Mr Bercow bent parliamentary rules to give MPs the chance to challenge government policy, most recently to pass the law seeking to block a no-deal exit from the European Union.

He was given a standing ovation from many members of the Lower House as he announced his plan to stand down in the coming weeks.

ABC/wires