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
Former Conservative chancellor Ken Clarke: "I do think the prime minister, with the greatest respect, has a tremendous skill in keeping a straight face while he's being so disingenuous."
Jeremy Corbyn has now called Boris Johnson a “cynical prime minister”.
He told the Commons: “If he has a Brexit plan, be it no-deal or the new mystery proposal deal that we’ve yet to see any information of, then he should put it before the public in a public vote, a referendum or a general election and seek a mandate for them.
“Let the prime minister go to Brussels tomorrow and ask for an extension so that he can seek a mandate for his unknown Brexit plan and put it before the people.”
“The truth is that this motion from the prime minister is about playing a disingenuous game that is unworthy of his office.
“It’s a cynical movement from a cynical prime minister.”
Jess Phillips has been on quite the attack. She has accused Boris Johnson of "bully boy" games and seeking to fulfil his own ambitions, rather than the country's.
"This is not some toy we can play with," she says.
Conservative MPs who have not spoken up about what she claimed were the internal machinations of their party were cowards, Ms Phillips said, having failed to say in public "what they're saying in the tea room".
In an emotional speech she said a general election on the prime minister's terms - meaning before Brexit on 31 October - would do a disservice to the British people.
(AFP)
Liberal Democrat leader Jo Swinson claimed the prime minister was “scared of being found out”.
She told the Commons: “The prime minister has wanted the job for so long it has almost been painful to watch.
“He has been prepared to say anything to get that job.”
She added that “now he has that job” he should “go and get that deal”.
Labour MP Liz Kendall says a "huge cross-party group MPs" have just gone into the House of Lords to listen to the debate.
SNP Westminster leader Ian Blackford has tonight called on the prime minister to sack his adviser Dominic Cummings and to take advice from Tory former chancellor Ken Clarke instead.
He said: “I’ll give you a piece of friendly advice prime minister; sack your adviser Dominic Cummings and bring in the right honourable member for Rushcliffe, who might actually be able to give you some sensible advice.”
Mr Blackford added: “The prime minister shouldn’t be talking about surrender.
“He should be congratulating members of parliament that have stood up for all our national interest and, really, what a disgrace for a prime minister to accuse parliamentarians - decent parliamentarians of surrender. It simply lacks dignity.”
The debate on Boris Johnson's motion for a general election on 15 October has now finished.
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