Boris Johnson defiant after major defeat in UK parliament

The result went against the government even though Johnson on Monday had threatened to call early general elections if his party lost a crucial vote on a possible delay of Brexit.

London: UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson remained defiant on Tuesday, despite suffering a major defeat in Parliament where rebels seized control of Brexit agenda.

In a 328 to 301 vote, lawmakers paved the way for the introduction of a bill on Wednesday that would seek to prevent Britain from leaving the European Union without a deal on 31 October.

The result went against the government even though Johnson on Monday had threatened to call early general elections if his party lost a crucial vote on a possible delay of Brexit.

The statement made in this regard by Johnson outside Downing Street was intended to pressure rebel lawmakers in his party to pull back from supporting legislation which if passed would force the government to delay the country's departure from the European Union to prevent a no-deal Brexit scenario.

The rebel lawmakers in the party had been told that they would be expelled from the parliamentary party and barred from standing as a conservative at any future elections if they support the emergency no-deal legislation.