London, Sep 4: Labour MPs and rebel Conservative party MPs have defeated British Prime Minister Boris Johnson-led government in the first session of their joint attempts to pass legislation to block a no-deal Brexit.
The House of Commons have voted 328-301 to take control over the parliament agenda that implies they can put forth a law seeking to rescheduled Britain’s departure from the European Union (EU).
In response, Johnson said he would also put forth a resolution for any early general election, according to BBC news reports.
A total of 21 Conservative rebels joined the opposition coalition to defeat Johnson’s government efforts.
After concluding the vote, a report said those Conservative members who stood against Johnson would have to face whip withdrawn, effectively ousting them from Conservative parliamentary party.
Ex-chancellor Ken Clarke, the longest-serving Tory rebels, told BBC he remains “a mainstream Conservative” but he did not recognize his party any more. He said the “knockabout character” of the prime minister had “the most right-wing cabinet a Conservative government has ever produced”.
Johnson said the officials’ legislation would “hand control” of the Brexit negotiations to the EU, as well as, “more dither, more delay, more confusion”.
He further told MPs he was left with no choices but to go ahead with efforts to call for an election in October, adding, “The people of this country will have to choose.”
This means, the MPs are now ready to take control of the parliament business from Wednesday – that will offer them a chance to produce a cross-party law forcing Johnson to ask for delay in Brexit withdrawal process until 31 January next year, unless the MPs endorse a new agreement, or vote in favour of the nature of a no-deal Brexit, by 19 October.