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UPDATE: UK lawmakers vote against snap elections, pass bill seeking Brexit delay

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UPDATE: UK lawmakers vote against snap elections, pass bill seeking Brexit delay

U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson failed in his bid to trigger early elections as the House of Commons on Sept. 4 approved legislation designed to stop an abrupt no-deal Brexit next month and instead seek another delay to the U.K.'s departure from the European Union.

Lawmakers defeated a motion filed by Johnson seeking to schedule a general election for Oct. 15. The motion received 298 votes in favor, compared to 56 against. It needed a two-thirds majority, or the support of 434 lawmakers, to pass.

Johnson called for fresh elections after the House of Commons dealt another blow to his Brexit plans, voting 327-299 to pass the Benn-Burt Bill on third reading. The draft law requires the government to ask the EU by Oct. 19 to extend the Brexit departure date to Jan. 31, 2020, unless lawmakers approve a withdrawal agreement or agree to a no-deal exit.

Johnson will be compelled to accept such delay if granted by the EU. But if Brussels offers a different extension period, the prime minister can either agree to it or seek the approval of the House of Commons.

The Benn-Burt Bill will be introduced to the House of Lords on Sept. 5 after clearing the House of Commons. The opposition Labour Party earlier said it would back a snap election only after a bill preventing a no-deal Brexit becomes law.

Johnson said he will never seek another delay to Brexit, insisting that it should take place by the current Oct. 31 deadline even in the absence of a withdrawal agreement with the EU. Lawmakers thrice rejected the Brexit deal struck by Theresa May, Johnson's predecessor, earlier this year.

Johnson wants to scrap a key part of that Brexit deal, the controversial Irish backstop plan, under a new agreement, but Brussels has rebuffed that request.

The worst-case scenario of a no-deal Brexit is a loss of output to the U.K. economy of 5.5% of GDP, according to the latest, scaled-back estimates from the Bank of England, which was seeing "real progress on the ground" in terms of Brexit preparations.

As the U.K. continues to prepare for any Brexit outcome, U.K. Chancellor of the Exchequer Sajid Javid earlier in the day promised the biggest increase in public spending in 15 years £13.8 billion, or a 4.1% rise for the next financial year, saying the government is "turning the page on austerity."