Our Reporter
A DEFIANT Boris Johnson vowed on Saturday to press on “undaunted” with Brexit on October 31, despite losing a crunch Commons vote.
The prime minister must now ask the EU for an extension to that deadline after MPs backed a motion designed to rule out a no-deal exit by 322 votes to 306.
“I will not negotiate a delay with the EU and neither does the law compel me to do so,” he told Members of Parliament.
He expressed his desire to bring in legislation tomorrow to implement the deal he struck with Brussels last week.
MPs could also be given another vote on the deal tomorrow, if Commons Speaker John Bercow allows it.
The Commons defeat is a major setback for the PM, who has repeatedly insisted that the UK will leave at the end of the month come what may.
Mr Johnson said he was not “daunted or dismayed” by the Commons defeat and remained committed to taking Britain out by the end of the month on the basis of his “excellent deal”.
But Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said: “The prime minister must now comply with the law. He can no longer use the threat of a no-deal crash-out to blackmail members to support his sell-out deal.”
And the SNP’s leader at Westminster, Ian Blackford, said that if Mr Johnson acted as if he was “above the law”, he would find himself in court.
Downing Street refused to offer any explanation as to why the prime minister did not consider he was obliged to negotiate a fresh extension.
The EU said it was up to the UK to “inform it of the next steps”.
MPs had been geared up for a make-or-break vote on Mr Johnson’s Brexit deal on the first Saturday sitting of Parliament since the Falklands War 37 years ago.
But in the end there was no vote on whether to back the deal or not.
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MPs voted for an amendment tabled by former Conservative MP Sir Oliver Letwin, withholding approval of the deal until the legislation to implement it is in place.
Ministers argue that this would delay Brexit – but Sir Oliver and his supporters, who back the deal, say it is an insurance policy to prevent it turning into a no-deal exit.
The main government motion, as amended, was passed without a vote, meaning the Benn Act kicks in and prime minister must request a three month extension.
A second government motion, on a no-deal Brexit, was pulled, meaning an amendment on a second referendum did not go to a vote either.
The voting took place as thousands of anti-Brexit demonstrators marched on Westminster.
Many People’s Vote supporters cheered when they learned of Mr Johnson’s defeat, and the crowds were later addressed by prominent Remain-supporting MPs including Dominic Grieve and Hilary Benn.
Footage posted to social media showed Conservative ministers Jacob Rees-Mogg and Andrea Leadsom being heckled by People’s Vote demonstrators as they left Parliament under police escort.
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