Boris Johnson loses majority as rebels get Brexit debate

Boris Johnson has suffered a major defeat over his Brexit strategy, which could delay Britain’s exit from the EU and force an early election.

• Johnson clashes with rebels over no-deal plans
• Boris throws down Brexit gauntlet

British parliament has voted to stop a no-deal Brexit in an extraordinary ballot that will force Boris Johnson to call a general election.

The vote to give MPs the right to debate a delay to Brexit was passed 328 votes to 301 just after 7am (AEST).

The Conservative Party has now split with 21 members voting with Labour’s Jeremy Corbyn.

Winston Churchill’s grandson Sir Nicholas Soames was among those who voted for the delay.

Boris Johnson gestures toward the opposition benches during a heated parliamentary session in London. Picture: AP

Mr Johnson had pledged to kick out MPs who voted against him, leaving him in an awkward position with the relative of one of Britain’s greatest leaders.

He has said that he would not go to the European Union to ask for an extension to Brexit, forcing him to call a general election to solve the matter.

Mr Johnson said after losing the vote: “I don’t want an election but if MPs vote tomorrow to stop the negotiations and to compel another pointless delay of Brexit, potentially for years, then that will be the only way to resolve this.

“I can confirm that tonight we are tabling a motion under the Fixed Term Parliament Act.”

Mr Johnson ost his majority in parliament after Phillip Lee crossed the floor to sit with rival Liberal Democrat MPs.

Mr Lee said in a statement that plunged the Conservative party into open warfare that the government was “putting lives and livelihoods at risk unnecessarily and it is wantonly endangering the integrity of the United Kingdom.”

Pro-leave and pro-remain protesters demonstrate with one another outside parliament in London. Picture: Getty Images

“More widely, it is undermining our country’s economy, democracy and role in the world,” he said.

In a heated parliamentary session, Mr Johnson condemned a plan by politicians to block his Brexit strategy as “surrender” and said it would undermine his intention to negotiate a new divorce deal with the EU.

Mr Johnson said in parliament that he did not want to call a general election.

However, it is widely tipped he would be forced to call an election for October 10 in a high stakes gamble to get Brexit over the line.

Anti-Brexit activists, and demonstrators opposing the British government's actions in relation to the handling of Brexit, protest outside the Houses of Parliament. Picture: AFP

Mr Johnson has maintained he can get a deal with Europe for a new agreement, with reports overnight that a solution for the controversial Northern Ireland border may have been found.

Ireland’s economy would be the biggest loser from a no-deal Brexit because most of its trade flows through the UK.

There are fears that Brexit could also lead to a hard border with Northern Ireland, which would inflame local tensions and potentially see a return to violence that plagued the region for decades until the Good Friday peace deal in 1997.

Mr Johnson’s supporters believe that he could win a general election and gain a majority that would allow a smooth break from Europe.

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