Britain’s Prime Minister Boris Johnson loses vote in showdown over Brexit

British PM Boris Johnson has reacted to his humiliating defeat in parliament by swiftly punishing the MPs who rebelled against him.

In a brutal act of retribution UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson has effectively sacked 21 of his own MPs — including Winston Churchill’s grandson — after he suffered a stunning defeat in parliament that could see Britain head to the polls in just weeks.

But Opposition Leader Jeremy Corbyn has said his party will try and block plans for a general election on October 15 and will instead push for a law ruling out a so-called “no deal” departure from the European Union — the issue at the heart of the humiliating drubbing.

In chaotic scenes late on Tuesday in London, opposition MPs and rebel members of Mr Johnson’s own party voted to take control of parliamentary business away from the ruling Conservatives, the first step in delaying Brexit yet again if he cannot agree on exit terms with Brussels.

The motion was passed 328 to 301, meaning Mr Johnson suffered a defeat in his first parliamentary vote since coming to power.

The vote passed yesterday was to allow a debate today (London time) on a bill to prevent a no deal Brexit on October 31.

One MP yelled out “Not a good start Boris” after the result was read out.

Theresa May, who resigned as PM paving the way for Mr Johnson to take the top job, could be seen smiling broadly as she left the House of Commons.

Britain's dejected Prime Minister Boris Johnson being driven away from the Houses of Parliament after his stunning defeat in parliament. Picture: Oli SCARFF / AFP.

Crowds of MPs squeezed to get into Britain’s House of Commons.

BRUTAL ACT

21 of the Tory party’s own MPs voted against Mr Johnson’s strict instructions. His revenge was swift and brutal.

As MPs filed out of the House of Commons, the Conservative rebels’ phones began to ring as one by one they had the whip withdrawn. That effectively means they are expelled from the party and must now sit as independent MPs. It also massively reduces their chances of retaining their seats if an election does take place.

The defiant MPs included some well known names. Philip Hammond, who was finance minister until July, was among them as was a descendant of Winston Churchill, Sir Nicholas Soames.

It’s been reported Tory whips called the dissident members in alphabetical order, therefore leaving Ed Vaizey until last — a detail apparently confirmed by the MP for Wantage, Dorset, in a tweet.

#vexit https://t.co/TICteneXIg

— Ed Vaizey (@edvaizey) September 3, 2019

For the first time in 14 years as an MP I voted against the Conservative Party whip. That whip has now been withdrawn.

If tonight’s motion had been lost, a no deal Brexit would have been almost inevitable. Probably not a good career move but the right choice.

— David Gauke (@DavidGauke) September 3, 2019

The 21 rebels. All prepared to lose the whip and their jobs to block No Deal. pic.twitter.com/nVZAcyVr6p

— Beth Rigby (@BethRigby) September 3, 2019

David Guake, one of the rebel MPs, admitted in a tweet his vote was “not a good career move”.

A senior Tory source told the Guardian: “Tonight’s decisive result is the first step in a process to avert an undemocratic and damaging no deal.

“No 10 have responded by removing the whip from two former chancellors, a former Lord Chancellor and Winston Churchill’s grandson. What has happened to the Conservative party?”

Mr Johnson had indicated he would go to a general election if he had no way to pursue a no deal Brexit. He claimed this would take away any leverage the UK has with the EU on amending the details of Mrs May’s much derided previous deal with Brussels.

And after the vote in the Commons was announced, Mr Johnson said he would indeed table a motion to call for an election if tomorrow’s delay on Brexit was passed.

“I don’t want an election but if MPs vote tomorrow to compel another pointless delay to Brexit then that would be the only way to resolve this,” she said.

Speaking after the vote, Labour’s Mr Corbyn said the party would not back a general election — rather they wanted a second referendum on EU membership.

“There is no consent in this house to leave the EU without a deal. There is no majority for no deal in the country. If the Prime Minister has confidence in his Brexit policy … (Mr Johnson) should put it before the people in a public vote,” he said.

THERESA’S ALL SMILES

It’s been just six weeks since former PM Ms May resigned after suffering a series of humiliating Brexit defeats in parliament.

Now a backbencher, she could be seen smiling from a car as it left Westminster, shortly after her successor tasted a dose of his own Brexit medicine.

Ms May lost a series of votes on the floor on her proposed deal with the EU, including one by a whopping 230 votes, the largest majority against a UK government in history.

She was not one of the 21 Tory rebels so can still claim to be loyal to Mr Johnson. But she pointedly sat next to someone who wasn’t — former Tory minister, Europhile and party grandee Kenneth Clarke. One of the 21 who voted against his own party, Mr Clarke tore into Mr Johnson in a BBC interview.

“He’s obviously not trying to get a deal. I’m sure he’d prefer one if he thought he could get one past his right-wing supporters but he’s dug himself in. He assumes he’s going to get no deal because he can’t get the right wing of the Conservative party, many of them now stuck in his cabinet, to agree to it.”

Former prime minister Theresa May leaves the House of Commons after Boris Johnson’s disastrous House of Commons vote. Picture: Aaron Chown/PA Wire.

Former British MP Theresa May have a good old chuckle in the House of Commons on Tuesday sitting next to former minister Kenneth Clark, one of the party’s most pro-EU figures. Picture: JESSICA TAYLOR / UK PARLIAMENT / AFP.

Theresa May looking heartbroken as she leaves Westminster tonight following Boris Johnson’s Commons humiliation. pic.twitter.com/YGp4Oz8rlh

— JOHN NICOLSON (@MrJohnNicolson) September 3, 2019

CAN BORIS ACTUALLY CALL AN ELECTION?

Unfortunately for Mr Johnson, calling an early election is no longer as simple as bending the knee to the Queen and requesting one.

A recent law change, called the Fixed Term Parliaments Act, means that two thirds of MPs must now vote in favour of holding what’s known in the UK as a “snap election”, a poll before a term of parliament has expired.

Usually, the opposition is happy for an election in the hope they can win more seats. But this time, Labour’s main game is to take control of the Brexit debate and stop a no-deal before an election happens.

If Labour refuses to vote for an election that could scupper Mr Johnson’s plans.

But the PM has other tools he could deploy. One is by introducing a new law that bypasses the Fixed Term Parliaments Act for this one election, reported the BBC. That would need just a simple majority to pass.

Or he could call a vote of confidence in himself. However, that would be a very risky strategy as Labour could look to cobble together the numbers to form government themselves.

BORIS’ MAJORITY WIPED OUT

The vote defeat comes after Mr Johnson’s Conservative government had its majority of one wiped out during an explosive parliamentary session over the future of Brexit.

Conservative MP Phillip Lee crossed the floor to defect to the centrist Liberal Democrats, wiping out the government’s working majority.

Mr Lee said on Tuesday he was leaving because “this Conservative Government is aggressively pursuing a damaging Brexit in unprincipled ways.”

After a great deal of thought, I have reached the conclusion that it is no longer possible to serve my constituents’ and country’s best interests as a Conservative Member of Parliament. My letter to the Prime Minister: pic.twitter.com/0QreSbSdwR

— Dr Phillip Lee MP (@DrPhillipLeeMP) September 3, 2019

Earlier, the Westminster chamber erupted in a chorus of jeers on Tuesday as Mr Johnson implored the packed house to back him.

Speaking 80 years on from the day Britain entered World War II, Mr Johnson said “this country still stands then as now, for democracy, for the rule of law.”

“This whole house is united in defending those values.”

The comments were met with widespread jeers from fellow MPs, given Mr Johnson has recently asked the Queen to suspend parliament.

Mr Johnson — who took office less than six weeks ago — has said he wants Britain to leave on October 31 “no ifs or buts” after almost half a century of EU membership.

Britain’s Prime Minister Boris Johnson has been dealt a major blow by the defection of one MP. Picture: AFPSource.

Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn has said he will look to block any attempt to go to a general election. Picture: AFP PHOTO / PRU.

WHAT COULD HAPPEN ON WEDNESDAY

Politicians have now taken over the government’s power to determine what legislation is put up for a vote.

On Wednesday, they will vote on a bill forcing Mr Johnson to seek a Brexit extension until January 31 if no new deal emerges at an October 17-18 EU summit.

They have even drafted the letter Mr Johnson is supposed to present to EU Council president Donald Tusk in Brussels.

The EU flags of anti-Brexit activists fly as pro-Brexit activists stand with their placards and demonstrate near the Houses of Parliament in central London. Picture: AFP

But Mr Johnson made clear on Monday he would not let parliament tell him what to do.

“I want everybody to know — there are no circumstances in which I will ask Brussels to delay.”

He insisted in his address to the nation that he was not seeking to disband parliament: “I don’t want an election. You don’t want an election,” he said.

Mr Johnson is being challenged by the Brexit Party of anti-EU populist Nigel Farage, who backs what he called a “clean break” with Europe.

But opinion polls suggest Mr Johnson’s decisive approach to Brexit is popular with voters and could help the Tories pick up seats.

— with AFP.