Major Conservative Defeat as Johnson loses majority and control

Last night the Liberal Democrats and MPs from across the House of Commons defeated the government by a majority of 27 to take control of the parliamentary order paper and begin a process of preventing a deeply damaging No Deal Brexit under the Conservative government.

This came after a single Tory MP defection to the Liberal Democrats caused the government to lose its majority in parliament and marked the beginning of a defining moment in the Brexit debacle.

Responding after the result Zöe Franklin (Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Candidate for Guildford, Cranleigh and the Villages) said:

"Last night's vote was deeply significant for the United Kingdom. MPs ensured that our sovereign parliament is in control and not the unrecognisable Conservative party that has lurched to the far right under the Johnson administration. It is this Tory government's pursuit of a far right, no-deal Brexit that has caused the current situation.

"Last night the voice of all MPs and the people of the UK was clearly heard.
Our MPs can continue to do their job representing and protecting their constituents from the deeply damaging impact of a No Deal Brexit.

"Last night was also a move to make it absolutely clear to Boris Johnson and the Conservative government that their anti-democratic and authoritarian move to try and silence parliament will not be tolerated.

"Clearly the country is divided - that is why we are proposing a People's Vote as a mechanism to confirm the will of the people.

"It is important to note that the defeat of the Government would not have been possible without 21 Conservative MPs putting country before party. Amongst these was Guildford MP Anne Milton and as a result she has lost the Conservative whip.

"I want to thank Anne for taking a stand last night - she did the right thing.

"I know that she has received thousands of letters over the past three years regarding Brexit and more recently asking her to defend our democracy from the dangerous lurch to the far right that the Conservatives have taken. To everyone who has written to her, be encouraged - your letters and engagement have made a difference. And to everyone in Guildford, Cranleigh and our Villages - never underestimate the power of writing to your MP and politicians we are hear to listen and represent you."