The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
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MPs will attempt to block a no-deal Brexit after they defeated the UK Government to wrest control of the Commons agenda – prompting Boris Johnson to vow to seek a snap general election.
Tory rebels defied the whip to join opposition parties in a move which will see them take control of business in the House today in a bid to stop the UK crashing out of the EU on October 31.
The prime minister said he would table a motion for a poll under the Fixedterm Parliaments Act last night, which could be put to a vote today.
However, Labour indicated they would not back the move – which would require the support of two-thirds of MPs – until chances of a no-deal Brexit were taken off the table.
Mr Johnson said Parliament was “on the brink of wrecking any deal” with Brussels after voting to give the crossparty alliance control of the Commons.
He told MPs: “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.”
Downing Street confirmed that the 21 Tory rebels – including former chancellors Ken Clarke and Philip Hammond – would lose the Conservative whip as a result of their actions.
Sir Nicholas Soames – Winston Churchill’s grandson – also backed the rebel move, and said he would not stand at the next general election.
Former Tory ministers Rory Stewart, David Gauke, Greg Clark, Justine Greening, Dominic Grieve, Alistair Burt, Sam Gyimah, Anne Milton and Caroline Nokes also voted against the government.
Mr Gauke tweeted: “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 That whip has now been withdrawn.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.”
A source close to the rebels said: “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?”
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn told the prime minister: “He wants to table a motion for a general election, fine.
“Get the Bill through first in order to take no deal off the table.”
Lib Dem leader Jo Swinson said it was vital the Commons does not “tip our country into an election at a point where there is any risk that we will crash out of the European Union during that election campaign or immediately after”.
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon tweeted: “Very good result in the Commons tonight (has a prime minister ever before lost his/her first Commons vote?). Next step now is to get the ‘no deal’ threat off the table by passing the Bill being introduced tomorrow... and then let’s have a general election.”