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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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”.
See below for live updates
Good morning and welcome to The Independent's live, up-to-the-minute coverage of what is likely to prove a momentous day in parliament and the prospects for Britain's future relationship with the European Union.
Late on Tuesday evening, Rebel MPs defied threats from Boris Johnson to vote through a motion paving the way for legislation to block a no-deal Brexit.
MPs voted to seize control of the Commons agenda later today in order to force through a bill requiring the prime minister to request an extension in Brexit talks to 31 January unless he secures a deal with Brussels or parliamentary approval for no deal by 19 October.
The government’s defeat by a margin of 328 to 301 leaves Mr Johnson’s Brexit strategy in tatters by potentially robbing him of the threat of no-deal, which he has repeatedly said is essential to obtain concessions from the EU.
In response, Mr Johnson confirmed he would attempt to trigger a general election, with a vote expected soon after the anti-no deal bill completes its passage through the Commons.
Here's the full story from The Independent's political editor, Andrew Woodcock.
Two of those Tory MPs who defied the government, Sir Nicholas Soames and Ken Clarke, appeared on Newsnight last night confirming they have had the whip removed.
"I have been told by the chief whip, who is my friend and who I like very much, but he has told me it will be his sad duty to write to me tomorrow to tell me I have had the whip removed after 37 years as a Conservative member of parliament," Sir Nicholas said.
He added: "That's fortunes of war, I knew what I was doing."
Consultants are advising businesses to prepare for a no-deal Brexit and update any preparations they have already made, the Press Association reports.
The Management Consultancies Association said the current political crisis left companies across the UK with no greater certainty about the eventual outcome on 31 October.
Chief executive Tamzen Isacsson said: "Many leading consultancies are still advising businesses that there is a much greater risk of a no-deal Brexit and it is imperative that all sizes of firms start planning to prepare for this outcome.
"Brexit fatigue is an issue within businesses but it's vital that any preparations made in March for no-deal are updated and it's essential there is good communication with employees, customers and suppliers about company plans.
"Companies need to continue to be self-sufficient, flexible and able to react to the political events as they unfold."
John Dickie of business group London First said: "A general election is not the answer to how we get a clear way forward on Brexit. Too many other issues will, rightly, also be part of the debate.
"Rather than putting the country on an election footing, the Government should work to secure a revised deal and put it back to the people for a definitive vote."
"We're not going to vote with Boris Johnson today, to deprive ourselves of the opportunity to complete the business that we've just seized control of the House to do" Keir Starmer, Labour's shadow Brexit secretary tells Sky News.
He adds: "We're not going to be voting for a general election today."
Departing Scottish Tory leader Ruth Davidson is stunned that Sir Winston Churchill has been pushed out of the party.
They might not vote to support a government motion on a general election today. But according to the BBC’s Laura Kuenssberg, Labour has issued an email to supporters saying “It’s on” and the leadership team is making it clear they will back one.
Former Tory leadership candidate Rory Stewart has revealed that he was sacked from the Conservative Party by text message – while he was getting a GQ award for politician of the year.
The one-time cabinet minister had the whip withdrawn after voting against the government.
Stewart called the decision to throw him out of the party “astonishing” and said it was something “you associate with other countries” rather than Britain.
He also said the decision on who should be a Tory candidate should rest with local associations.
“This really should be a choice for local Conservative associations and not a central decision,” told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme. “This is not a Conservative way of behaving.”
Business Minister Kwasi Kwarteng defended the decision to withdraw the whip from Tories who voted against the government. He also suggested it would mean they couldn’t stand as Conservative candidates, if and when an election comes.
Referring to the move to expel former leadership candidate Rory Stewart, he said: “On this central issue, on this key question of Brexit, he chose to vote against the government and chose essentially to give control of the order paper to the opposition.
“It was very clearly stated that Conservative MPs would lose the whip. Now 21 of them out of 312 – that is about six per cent – chose to vote against the government and they had the whip withdrawn. That was very clear.”
He added: “I think it is a shame – a lot of them are very talented people. But you cannot have people standing as Conservative MPs when they are against the government’s policy on the key issue of the day.”
Sir Keir Starmer has confirmed this morning that Labour will vote down Boris Johnson's bid for a general election tonight.
Our political correspondent Lizzy Buchan has all the details.
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