Boris Johnson defeated as MPs seek to stop no-deal Brexit

The prime minister said he regarded the vote as one of confidence in his premiership.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson speaking in the House of Commons | Roger Harris/U.K. Parliament via EPA

LONDON — U.K. MPs voted by a majority of 27 to change the law to stop Boris Johnson from taking the U.K. out of the European Union on October 31 without a deal.

Tory rebels defied threats from their leader to dump them from the party and the possibility of a general election on October 14 and backed a motion which will allow MPs to control of the parliamentary schedule Wednesday, clearing a path for legislation that would force a Brexit delay. MPs voted by 328 votes to 301 to back the motion.

Tuesday’s vote will allow MPs to attempt to fast-track legislation through parliament in order to force the prime minister to ask for a three-month extension to negotiations if a deal is not agreed between the EU and the U.K. by October’s European Council.

Following the rebellion, which Johnson made clear he saw as a vote of confidence in his premiership, he is now expected to ask MPs to allow him to call an election on October 14 — three days before the crunch EU summit.

Johnson will dare Labour Leader Jeremy Corbyn, who has been calling for a election, to abandon efforts to legislate against no deal, and fight an election in just over a month’s time. For an election to take place, two thirds of MPs must support it meaning it cannot pass without support from the opposition.

Corbyn welcomed Tuesday’s defeat for the government. “We live in a parliamentary democracy. Prime ministers govern with the consent of the House of Commons representing the people in whom the sovereignty rests,” he told MPs in the House of Commons. “There is no consent in this house to leave the EU without a deal. There is a no majority for no deal in the country.”

The Labour leader added that he would not support a motion to call a general election until parliament had ensured Britain would avoid a no-deal Brexit.

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