British Prime Minister Boris Johnson on September 26 lost yet another vote in parliament over a government request for a three-day recess to allow his Conservative party to hold its annual conference.
The government lost the vote, which could affect the timing of the conference in Manchester, by 306 votes to 289.
The vote could force the party to shorten its party conference, which is scheduled to last from September 29 to October 2, or even cancel it altogether.
There is no obligation for MPs to be in recess during the party conferences but it is customary.
The Supreme Court on September 24 ruled “unlawful, void and of no effect” Mr. Johnson’s decision to suspend parliament earlier this month in the run-up to Brexit.
Following the judgement, MPs reconvened on September 25 for an ill-tempered debate in which Mr. Johnson accused his opponents of trying to reverse the result of the 2016 Brexit referendum.
No elections before October 31: Commons Speaker
Meanwhile, House of Commons Speaker John Bercow has said that, under existing rules, a national election could not be held before the country is due to leave the European Union at the end of October.
Labour lawmaker Richard Burgon asked Mr. Bercow whether it was correct that due to rules about the amount of time needed to arrange a national election, the earliest one could now take place is November 5.
“I can confirm that my understanding of the electoral timetable under the existing statutory framework is the same as his,” Mr. Bercow said on September 26.
Mr. Johnson has twice asked parliament to approve holding an early election but opposition parties say they do not want to agree to one until the risk of a no-deal Brexit has been removed.
