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.
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.