Britain's Houses of Parliament is pictured in London, Britain, September 4, 2019. REUTERS/Hannah McKay

LONDON (Reuters) - British lawmakers on Wednesday approved a piece of legislation designed to prevent Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s government taking the country out of the European Union without a deal.

Lawmakers in Britain’s lower house of parliament voted 327 to 299 in favor of the plan. The legislation now passes to parliament’s upper chamber for approval.