MPs are one step closer to thwarting a no-deal Brexit after passing a motion to seize control of Parliament.
The gives them a window tomorrow to vote on a bill which, if passed, would require the government to gain a parliamentary majority to leave without a deal.
After a dramatic emergency debate in the Commons this evening, MPs voted for the motion proposed by Sir Oliver Letwin, with 328 votes for and 301 votes against.
Once the results came in, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said Parliament was on the brink of wrecking any deal with Brussels.
He said: I dont want an election, but if MPs vote tomorrow to delay Brexit then that will be the only way to resolve this.
He confirmed the government would be tabling a motion under the Fixed Term Parliament Act for an early general election if they are defeated tomorrow.
Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn responded: 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.
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Analysis of the Commons division list showed 21 Tories rebelled to support the motion, despite warnings they could have the whip withdrawn.
Rebel MPs hit back at Johnsons threats, with former attorney general Dominic Grieve saying he has got another thing coming if he thinks removing the party whip will deter them.
A Downing Street spokesman said: The Chief Whip is speaking with those Tory MPs who did not vote with the Government this evening. They will have the whip removed.
Remainer Tory MP Ken Clarke accused Johnson of plotting a hasty election before the consequences of no-deal become too obvious to the public.
Johnson might want an election to try and bolster his partys numbers and regain a majority, after Philip Lee walked across the chamber and defected to the Liberal Democrats today.
If tomorrows bill is passed, it would give the PM a mandate to seek an extension to Article 50, allowing the UK to stay in the EU until January 31.
That is unless the UK agrees on a trade deal with the European Union before then or if Parliament agrees to a no-deal Brexit by October 19.
Sir Oliver was challenged by Brexiteer MPs in the Commons today, who warned delaying the UKs departure from the EU would create more uncertainty and damage business.
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Hitting back, Sir Oliver said: Uncertainty does create difficulties for business but a no-deal Brexit will create more difficulties for business, in my judgement.
Accepting negotiating a new deal would not be an easy task, he added: We are between a rock and a hard place – in this instance, the hard place is better than the rock.
He said Boris Johnsons do or die promise to leave on October 31 is like a person standing on one side of a canyon shouting to someone on the other side that if they do not do as he wishes he will throw himself into the abyss.
Johnson has said the government cannot accept the current withdrawal negotiated under Theresa May because the Irish backstop arrangement would subject Northern Ireland to EU regulations and therefore undermine UK sovereignty.
But with the EU reluctant to budge, German Chancellor Angela Merkel gave Johnson a 30 day ultimatum in August to come up with a credible alternative and is still waiting for one.
As MPs waged war over tonights motion, Corbyn said: Now is not the time to play Russian roulette with the economy.
Its our chance to seize this last opportunity to stand up to a bullying government that has showed its ready to dodge scrutiny and silence debate.
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Whether people voted leave or remain, they did not vote to shut down democracy.
Hitting back at Johnson calling the opposition-backed legislation a surrender bill, Corbyn said: If anything its a no deal exit that will mean surrendering our industry, our jobs, surrendering our standards and protections in a trade deal with Donald Trump and the United States.
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