Major defeat for British PM as lawmakers seize agenda

LONDON» On a day of humiliating setbacks, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson suffered a major defeat in Parliament on Tuesday night as rebellious lawmakers voted to seize control of the Brexit agenda, prompting the embattled leader to say he would call for a new general election.

The 328 to 301 vote — made possible by 21 fellow Conservatives who turned their back on Johnson’s pleas and face ejection from the party — cleared the way for his opponents to introduce a bill Wednesday that would seek to prevent Great Britain from leaving the European Union without a deal Oct. 31. It was a momentous day in Great Britain’s Parliament as the legislature rose up to successfully challenge the power of the prime minister over vital Brexit policy.

There is still no clarity about how and when Great Britain will leave the prosperous EU bloc as the tortuous Brexit process nears a climax more than

three years after the original vote to leave. A new election would set the stage for a battle over whether voters favor a “no-deal” Brexit, more negotiations or possibly a referendum on the entire question of leaving the EU.

The cross-party rebels are fighting to prevent a nodeal Brexit because of fears it would gravely damage the economy and plunge the U.K. into a prolonged recession while also leading to possible medicine and food shortages. The vote came hours after Johnson suffered a key defection from his party, costing him his working majority in Parliament.

Johnson and his backers say these fears are overblown and that voters who backed Brexit are demanding action, not more talk.

On a day of high drama and acerbic debate in the House of Commons, lawmakers returned from their summer recess to confront Johnson over his insistence that the U.K. leave the European Union on Oct. 31, even without a withdrawal agreement to cushion the economic blow. Many shouted, “Resign!”

A new election would take Great Britain’s future directly to the people for a third general election in four years. It is not clear Johnson would immediately get the two-thirds majority in Parliament needed to call a fresh vote because opponents are wary he might postpone the election date until after Brexit has taken place, in effect ramming through a no-deal exit.

“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,” Johnson said after he lost the vote in Parliament.

Earlier on Tuesday, two other prominent Conservatives signaled their decision not to seek re-election rather than follow Johnson’s Brexit policy. Former Cabinet Minister Justine Greening and former Foreign Office Minister Alistair Burt also signaled their intention to step down.

Jeremy Corbyn, leader of the main opposition Labour Party, said he will not agree to a new election until legislation preventing a “nodeal” exit is in place.

“He isn’t winning friends in Europe. He’s losing friends at home. His is a government with no mandate, no morals and, as of today, no majority,” Corbyn said.

Johnson, who became prime minister in July, has tried to crack down on members of his Conservative Party who oppose his Brexit plans, warning they would be expelled from the party if they supported parliamentary efforts to block or delay the withdrawal.

His stance has infuriated many longtime, prominent party members.

Time to block a no-deal departure is running short. Johnson last week maneuvered to give his political opponents even less time to block a chaotic no-deal Brexit, getting Queen Elizabeth II’s approval to suspend Parliament. His outraged critics sued, and attorneys arguing the case at a court in Scotland completed submissions Tuesday. The judge could rule as soon as Wednesday.

A no-deal Brexit will sever decades of seamless trade with Europe’s single market of 500 million people. Leaked government documents predicted disruptions to the supply of medicine, decreased availability of fresh food and even potential fresh water shortages because of disruption to supplies of water treatment chemicals.

Johnson insists the potential threat of leaving without a deal must remain as a bargaining chip in negotiations with the EU.

Though the EU is Great Britain’s biggest trading partner, a no-deal Brexit would also hurt Europe — a fact not lost on Brussels. Johnson’s supporters said lawmakers were weakening the government’s negotiating position with the EU.