United Kingdom and Gibraltar European Union membership referendum
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When the historic session of the House of Commons began on Tuesday, Johnson's governing coalition still had one vote in the lower house. At the end of the emergency debate his fraction had shrunk by 22 members.
In advance, the Prime Minister threatened to exclude anyone from the party who would not vote with him. Johnson made it clear that the Conservatives want to do what they want - and that is the exit from the EU on 31 October. Whether with agreement or without.
However, he could not intimidate passionate opponents of a no-deal Brexit: The deputy Antoinette Sandbach, for example, had announced shortly before the showdown to vote for measures that could prevent a no-deal Brexit.
Conservative leader Phillip Lee boldly switched to the Liberal Democrat Bank. It happened the moment Johnson praised the benefits of closer trade relations with the US - his alternative to the single market with the EU. Lee then said, "The party I joined in 1992 is not the party I am leaving today." Johnson is "unscrupulously promoting a harmful Brexit" with his government.
For example, a majority of lower house MPs voted on Wednesday to vote on an anti-no-deal bill that would force Johnson to ask the EU to postpone his withdrawal should no agreement be reached between Brussels and London have come about.
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