Britain’s Prime Minister has been weakened by a major defeat in Parliament. w defiant lawmakers are moving on Wednesday to bar Boris Johnson from pursuing a “-deal” Brexit from European Union.

In retaliation, new leer plans to call an early general election that would put his own future and that of his Conservative Party on line in a bid for a new Parliament that would back his Brexit policy.

Johnson enjoyed a brief honeymoon after taking power in July, dominating news with public spending programs while Parliament was in recess. However, it came to an abrupt end Tuesday night as rebellious lawmakers — including 21 of Johnson’s fellow Conservatives — voted 328 to 301 to seize control of Brexit nda.

-deal Brexit

re is still great uncertainty about how — or even if — Britain will ultimately leave prosperous EU bloc and strike out on its own, a cherished goal for Johnson and his inner circle of Brexit-minded visers.

course remains unpredictable. Even if rebels force through legislation blocking a -deal Brexit on October 31, an extension beyond that date can only take effect if each of or 27 EU nations approves it.

Re: UK Parliament Reconvenes To Challenge PM Johnson On -Deal Brexit

Conservative Mutiny

Conservative revolt comes at a cost as party frays under Brexit pressure. Some senior Conservative Party figures, including former Treasury chief, Philip Hammond, and Winston Churchill’s grandson, Nicholas Soames, joined rebellion and face expulsion from party after deces of service.

Prime Minister’s risky plan to call an early election also may prove difficult to enforce. He would need a two-thirds majority to back him in Parliament, and wary Opposition parties do t trust Johnson to make good on any promise to hold an election before October 31 Brexit deline.

Labour Party leer Jeremy Corbyn, who has been demanding an election for several years, said Tuesday night he would only back a new election if legislation blocking a -deal is alrey in place.

A frustrated Johnson complained after vote that Parliament was giving EU control of negotiations and said he would t seek a delay under any circumstances. “I don’t want an election but if MPs vote tomorrow to stop negotiations and to compel ar pointless delay of Brexit, potentially for years, n that will be only way to resolve this,” Johnson said.

If an election is scheduled, it would probably be held in mid-October. re are many unkwns — for starters, it is t clear wher re might eventually be an alliance between Johnson and Brexit Party led by eurosceptic Nigel Far. two h earlier teamed up effectively during  2016 Brexit referendum.

Labour’s position is t entirely clear. Party leer Corbyn opposes a -deal Brexit but has disappointed many party members who want him to call for Brexit to be stopped altoger.

vote in Parliament on Tuesday night suggests strong support for preventing -deal scenario. It was only me possible by 21 Conservative Party legislators who defied Johnson and will see ir parliamentary careers come to an early end because of it.

Recession at UK's Doorstep

cross-party rebels are fighting to prevent a -deal Brexit because of fears it would gravely dam ecomy and plunge Britain into a prolonged recession while also leing to possible medicine and food shorts. vote came hours after Johnson suffered a key defection from his party, costing him his working majority in Parliament.

Johnson and his backers say fears about -deal are overblown and that voters who backed Brexit are demanding action, t more talk.

Downing Street said after vote that party members who defied Johnson on vote would be expelled. Johnson’s hardline stance has infuriated many longtime prominent party members.

Re: UK’s Boris Johnson Moves To Suspend Parliament Ahe Of Brexit

Turning into "Brexit Party

Dominic Grieve, who was attorney general in David Cameron’s government, says expulsion threats demonstrate Johnson’s “ruthlessness.” Greening said she feared her beloved party was “morphing into Nigel Far’s Brexit Party.” Former Treasury chief Hammond warned of “fight of a lifetime” if officials tried to prevent him from running in next election.

Tuesday’s defections come after Johnson last week maneuvered to give his political opponents even less time to block a chaotic -deal Brexit, getting Queen Elizabeth II’s approval to suspend Parliament. His outrd critics sued, and attorneys arguing case at a court in Scotland completed submissions Tuesday. judge could rule as soon as Wednesday. Two or major legal challenges to suspension are pending.

In one of cases, former Prime Minister John Major — a Conservative Party grandee — plans to argue that Johnson’s planned suspension of Parliament should be overturned by courts.

Johnson claims progress is being me in talks with EU, but re are doubts about validity of this assertion. Only 58 days before scheduled exit, EU said it h received proposals from British government aimed at overcoming impasse.

European Commission spokeswoman Mina Andreeva said EU’s executive body, which supervises talks on behalf of Britain’s 27 European partners, is operating on “working assumption” that Britain will leave bloc October 31.

Re: Dow Suffers Worst Day Of 2019 As Recession Fears Hit US, European Stocks

Re: Boris Johnson Elected New UK PM; Promises To 'energise Country And Get Brexit Done'

(With AP Inputs)