Boris Johnson has been sent a stark warning about the scale of opposition to a no-deal Brexit, as MPs voted by a significant majority to make it harder for him to suspend Parliament if he becomes prime minister next week.



In a wider margin of victory for anti-no-deal MPs than expected, an amendment aimed at preventing Parliament from being prorogued passed 315–274 — a majority of 41.

Prorogation is a potential route for a Johnson government to leave the EU without a deal — it would mean suspending Commons sittings in order to stop MPs from blocking no-deal. During his leadership campaign, Johnson has repeatedly kept this option on the table.

Seventeen Tory MPs voted to make such a move more difficult on Thursday, in a sign of the future rebellion the next prime minister will face if he attempts to leave the EU without a deal.

The rebels included minister Margot James, who quit her post in order to break the whip.

Thirty further Tories abstained, including the chancellor Philip Hammond — who is expected to resign from the government next week before the Tory leadership result is announced — as did Cabinet ministers David Gauke, Greg Clark, and Rory Stewart.