Brexit vote result – live: Boris Johnson suffers second humiliating defeat as MPs vote to block no deal but put May’s deal back on table on technicality
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Your support makes all the difference.Boris Johnson‘s plan to call an early general election was rejected after his earlier bid to keep a no-deal Brexit on the table suffered a major blow.
The prime minister had called for a poll to be held on 15 October after legislation designed to prevent the UK crashing out of the EU on 31 October cleared the Commons on Tuesday.
But Labour and other opposition MPs refused to back the motion for a snap election, which needed a two-thirds majority in the Commons, while the risk of a no-deal exit remained.
The government failed to secure the support of two-thirds of MPs, with the Commons voting 298 to 56 – 136 short of the number needed.
Mr Johnson urged MPs to reflect on what he thinks is the “unsustainability of this position overnight and in the course of the next few days”.
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The prime minister has told the 1922 committee of Conservative MPs that there must be an election and Britain will leave the EU on 31 Oct 31.
Boris Johnson is said to have given his “guarantee” that the rebel MPs who had the Tory whip removed for rebelling against the government will not be able to return.
Daniel Kawczynski MP said he “pleaded” with the prime minister “not to restore the whip to any Conservative member of parliament who has undermined him in these negotiations with the European Union and he’s given me an assurance that the whip will not be restore”.
Pressed on what the PM said to him, Mr Kawczynski said: “He gave me a guarantee.”
Tory peers who rebel to back the Bill to block a no-deal Brexit on 31 October will not face being stripped of the Conservative whip.
21 Tory MPs had the whip removed on Tuesday after voting for a measure to allow the cross-party alliance to seize control of the Commons order paper.
But while that Commons vote was treated as an effective confidence motion, the proceedings on the timetable for the Bill if it reaches the Lords will not be.
A Downing Street source said Conservatives will be “expected to support the government front bench”, however.
It means Dame Caroline Spelman, who rebelled against the government to support the Bill today, will not have the party whip with drawn.
The Richard Graham amendment (amendment 19) was defeated by 495 votes to 65, a majority of 430.
The amendment requires the government to have a vote on 21 October to decide whether it wants the existing deal or a new deal.
The prime minister would then have to seek an extension from the EU to allow the legislation for a deal through parliament.
Liberal Democrat MP Layla Moran says there are rumours that 10 amendments will be voted on tonight.
Stephen Kinnock's amendment to put Theresa May's deal back to the Commons for another vote has reportedly just been passed by mistake.
Labour MP Stephen Kinnock's amendment was approved after no tellers for the noes were put forward when it was pushed to a vote.
This resulted in deputy speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle cancelling the vote on it. He then confirmed the amendment was added to the Bill.
Mr Kinnock's amendment seeks to bring back former prime minister Theresa May's final Brexit offer, the Withdrawal Agreement Bill, that emerged from cross-party talks earlier this year.
The Withdrawal Agreement Bill was never put before parliament, as Ms May was ousted as leader of the Conservative Party before she was able to put it to a vote.
PA
Some reaction on what has just happened from political journalists...
Labour MP Sarah Champion has tweeted: "Big big win, my amendment to publish the withdrawal bill passed.
"We can now have an informed debate and hopefully secure a deal the House can accept. I both astounded and delighted!!"
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