Brit lawmakers nix PM Johnson's bid for snap election

RT
Wed, 04 Sep 2019 20:36 UTC

© Reuters/UK Parliament/Roger Harris

Britain's Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn speaks at the House of Commons

PM Boris Johnson's attempt to trigger a general election has been thwarted by British MPs after he failed to achieve the two-thirds majority required in a vote in the UK parliament on Wednesday night.

The defeat in the House of Commons saw Johnson's Tory government fail to reach the 434 threshold required with only 298 MPs supporting the early election motion and 56 lawmakers voting against it.

The Labour Party, the Liberal Democrats and the Scottish National Party (SNP) all appear to have abstained from the vote.

Johnson reacted by saying that Corbyn is now "the first leader of the opposition in the democratic history of our country to refuse the invitation of an election." He claimed that reason was because he "does not think he can win."

Corbyn earlier said that his party will back an election only after a 'no-deal' is completely ruled out. It completes a disastrous night for the British prime minister after rebel MPs earlier sealed victory on new legislation at the third and final stage that compels Johnson to seek a three-month extension to Article 50 from Brussels to stop a 'no-deal' Brexit on October 31.

The 'no-deal' Brexit blocking bill now passes on to the Lords for debate, where it is expected to be voted through on Friday before going to the Queen for royal assent.

Meanwhile, a heated debate has erupted whether Labour's Wednesday move was a strategically correct one.

"There are those who will way say Labour's move is a shrewd strategy. But having called repeatedly for an election for the last two years it doesn't look good that when they finally get the chance of one they turn it down," journalist Neil Clark told RT.

Labour's decision to prioritize stopping a 'no-deal' over trying to get into power as soon as possible "will cost them dearly when an election does come," Clark said.

Comment: More from RT, 4/9/2019 Rebel MPs seal defeat of blocking 'no-deal' Brexit

The bill, tabled by Labour's Hilary Benn and supported by the likes of Ken Clarke and Churchill's grandson, Nicholas Soames, who have been expelled from the Conservative Party, was passed by 327 votes to 299 in the House of Commons after the third and final reading on Wednesday night. It's a hammer blow to Johnson.

Johnson responded to the defeat by saying there is now "only one way forward" and "there must now be an election on Tuesday 15 of October."

However, the Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said his party will back an election only after a 'no-deal' is completely ruled out.

The new law calls for the prime minister to obtain an extension to Article 50 from the EU that runs to "11pm on 31 January 2020."

Clarke, Soames were among a number of Tory MPs who were sacked from the party after they defied Johnson to vote for the new legislation at first reading on Tuesday night.

Johnson who will table a motion for an early election later on Wednesday, with voting scheduled for around 10.30pm BST. The Prime minister is hoping to secure an election for October 15.

The prospects for Brexit happening now look "quite bleak" without a general election, veteran political journalist Neil Clark told RT. "Ruling out 'no-deal' effectively means ruling out Brexit as there's no incentive for the EU to offer a better deal."