Boris Johnson news – live: Major blow for prime minister as Commons vote paves way for bill preventing no-deal Brexit
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Your support makes all the difference.Rebel Tories have defied Boris Johnson's threats of deselection to align with opposition MPs and derail his Brexit plans in a historic Commons vote.
MPs voted to seize control of the house agenda, paving the way for a bill to be tabled tomorrow that would prevent the prime minister from crashing the country out of the EU on October 31.
The prime minister's statement to the House earlier this evening was upstaged when Tory MP Dr Phillip Lee dramatically crossed the floor to sit with the Liberal Democrats, depriving him of his majority.
Mr Johnson said he would put in train a motion calling for a general election next month.
Labour have said they may vote in favour of such a poll, but only if they could be certain Mr Johnson would not move the date until after Britain is due to leave on October 31, in effect bringing about a no-deal by default.
If MPs back tonight's motion, they will get the chance to vote on the bill blocking no-deal Brexit tomorrow.
Michael Gove said this in the Commons earlier: "I am absolutely certain that consumers will continue to have a wide choice of quality, fresh foodstuffs in the event of a no-deal Brexit."
Jeremy Corbyn says in the past parliament has been able to "act as an effective block on any abuse of power".
MPs should "stand up for what is right", he says.
Mr Corbyn says "we are ready for a general election", in response to a question from opposite as to whether he would vote for a motion triggering a poll in the coming days.
Mr Corbyn is challenged by Conservative Vicky Ford over his votes against Theresa May's deal. He responds by citing Boris Johnson's two votes against the same deal.
ELECTION UPDATE
From our political correspondent Lizzy Buchan:
Labour will not back any motion to trigger an early election tabled by Boris Johnson, amid fears it could be an “elephant trap” that would lead to a no-deal Brexit.
Chief whip Nick Brown received a round of applause when he told a meeting of the parliamentary Labour party on Tuesday that Labour would not give a “blank cheque” to the PM to call an election when he chooses.
He told the meeting it would be a “disgrace” and a “betrayal” to allow Mr Johnson to set the date, which could pave the way for a no-deal Brexit if the election is after the Brexit deadline.
Lloyd Russell Moyle, Labour MP for Brighton Kemptown, said the party was fighting “dark forces” so the details were under wraps, but there were several options on the table to secure an election through other channels.
Supporting tonight's motion does not amount to trying to block Brexit or reverse the referendum result, Mr Corbyn says.
The proposed bill, which if tonight's motion is passed will be debated tomorrow, is designed to provide breathing room for negotiations, he says.
"Whether people voted leave or remain, they did not vote to shut down democracy," he adds.
Jacob Rees-Mogg says the proposed bill "seeks to confound the referendum" result.
He claims tonight's motion is "constitutionally irregular".
Lady Hermon MP, the independent representative for North Down, warns that no-deal Brexit would cause an "inevitable hardening of the border" between Ireland and Northern Ireland, and embolden Sinn Fein to seek to unify the two.
"There would have to be a political desire" to impose a hard border, Mr Rees-Mogg insists.
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