Boris Johnson has suffered a humbling double defeat, as MPs backed legislation to stop Britain leaving the EU without a deal and then blocked the prime minister’s attempt to call an election to regain the initiative on Brexit.
Mr Johnson, facing growing anger from Tory MPs over his handling of Brexit, endured two defeats inside two hours on Wednesday night, leaving him, in effect, trapped in 10 Downing Street by a hostile parliament.
First Tory rebel MPs joined forces with opposition parties to approve a Brexit delay bill, aimed at blocking a no deal exit at the end of October, by 327 votes to 299. The measure now moves to the House of Lords.