Brexit news latest: Boris Johnson calls for election on October 15 after bill designed to block no-deal clears Commons

Katy Clifton4 September 2019
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Boris Johnson has said there must be an early election after a bill designed to block a no-deal Brexit cleared the Commons.

The bill passed its third reading by 327 votes to 299 and will now move to the House of Lords for the next phase.

Responding to his defeat in the Commons, Mr Johnson said there "must now be an election on October 15".

Mr Johnson said: "There is only one way forward for the country. The House has voted repeatedly to leave the EU but it has also voted to delay actually leaving.

"Today, I'm afraid it has voted to scupper any serious negotiations."

Prime Minister Boris Johnson
PA

Responding to Mr Johnson's call for an early election, Mr Corbyn said: "The offer of the election today is a bit like the offer of an apple to Snow White from the Wicked Queen because what he is offering is the poison of a no deal.

"Let this bill pass and gain royal assent then we will back an election so we do not crash out with a no-deal exit from the European Union"

Before the third reading vote, an amendment to the bill tabled by Stephen Kinnock passed, which 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 Mrs May was ousted as leader of the Conservative Party before she was able to put it to a vote.

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.

MPs in the Commons on Wednesday
AP

Before the vote was announced, Liberal Democrats peer Lord Strasburger tweeted that the debate in the Lords could last for days.

He said: "I'm proud to be playing a small part in the Lords' marathon effort to stop no-deal, which will force Johnson to try to reach a deal (which he can't). Just had our first two votes of potentially 200. This could run round the clock into the weekend."

The division list showed Conservative Dame Caroline Spelman voted for the Bill at second reading.

She was joined by almost all of the newly Independent MPs who lost the Tory whip on Tuesday in the ayes lobby.

Of the 300 who voted against the Bill, 285 were Conservatives, 10 DUP, three Independent and two Labour - Kate Hoey (Vauxhall) and John Mann (Bassetlaw)

Meanwhile, the Prime Minister has said he would call for a general election on October 15 if Labour and rebel Tories succeed in passing the Brexit delay bill.

Mr Johnson said he would call for a snap general election if he was forced to request an extension to the October deadline.

Boris Johnson during Prime Minister's Questions
PA

But Labour indicated that they would not back the move, which would require the support of two-thirds of MP, until chances of a no-deal Brexit were taken off the table.

Mr Johnson will table a motion for a snap election at around 9pm, which will then be debated on for around 90 minutes before MPs vote at around 10.30pm.

On Monday, the Prime Minister warned that MPs would “chop the legs out” from the UK position if they backed a Brexit extension and stressed there were “no circumstances” in which he would personally seek a delay.

He said: “I say, to show our friends in Brussels that we are united in our purpose, MPs should vote with the Government against Corbyn’s pointless delay. I want everybody to know there are no circumstances in which I will ask Brussels to delay. We are leaving on October 31, no ifs or buts.”

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