“Not a good start, Boris!” shouted one MP.
UK MPs have voted to take control of tomorrow’s parliamentary business in an attempt to block a no-deal Brexit.
The motion was passed by 328 – 301, with a majority of 27.
This now means that opposition parties have control of parliamentary business in the House of Commons and can move legislation that’s aimed at delaying Brexit until the end of January, 2020 so that a deal can be agreed.
MPs now have the chance to pass all stages of the bill tomorrow. It will then go to the House of Lords.
After the result was announced, Boris Johnson said that he is tabling a motion for a general election because he will not accept the Benn bill.
Johnson said that if MPs vote for a delay to Brexit tomorrow, he will seek to hold an election. In response to this, Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said that if Johnson wants an election, he must get the bill passed first.
Even if Johnson calls for an election – it’s unclear whether he will be able to achieve that, given the lack of support he now enjoys.
Earlier today, Johnson was left without a working majority after Philip Lee joined the Liberal Democrats.
The prime minister is set to sack Winston Churchill’s grandson, two former Chancellors and close to 20 other MPs who rebelled against him.
Speaking immediately after the results of the vote was announced, Johnson said: “Let there be no doubt about the consequences of this vote tonight. It means that parliament is on the brink of wrecking any deal we might be able to strike in Brussels. Because tomorrow’s bill would hand control of the negotiations to the EU.
“And that would mean more dither, more delay, more confusion. And it would mean that the EU themselves would be able decide how long to keep this country In the EU. And since I refuse to go along with that plan. We are going to have to make a choice, Mr Speaker. I don’t want an election. The public don’t want an election. But if the House votes for this Bill tomorrow, the public will have to choose who goes to Brussels on 17 October to sort this out and take this country forward.
“Everyone will know if the Rt Jon Gentleman is the prime minister, he will go to Brussels, he will beg for an extension, you will accept whatever Brussels demands and we’ll have years more arguments over Brexit. And by contrast, everyone will know that if I am Prime Minister, I will go to Brussels, I will go for a deal and get a deal but if they won’t do a deal, we will leave anyway on 31 October.
“The people of this country will have to choose. The leader of the opposition has been begging for an election for two years. I don’t want an election but if MPs vote tomorrow to stop the negotiations and to compel another pointless delay of Brexit, potentially for years, then that will be the only way to resolve this. I can confirm that tonight we will are tabling a motion under the Fixed Term Parliament Act.”
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said Johnson’s government have “no mandate, no morals and, as of today, no majority.”
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