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UK government loses parliamentary majority ahead of Brexit showdown

The government of U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson lost its working majority in parliament after one of his Conservative lawmakers switched parties, a move that could potentially deal a blow to his Brexit plans.

Bracknell MP Phillip Lee defected to the Liberal Democrats, saying in a statement that Johnson's government "is aggressively pursuing a damaging Brexit in unprincipled ways."

Lee predicted that more Conservative lawmakers will quit the party. "I don't expect to be the last person to make this decision," he told Sky News in an interview.

With Lee's defection, Johnson's government now only has the backing of 319 voting MPs in the 650-seat House of Commons, including those from the Democratic Unionist Party.

The pound rebounded following the news, gaining 0.21% after falling below $1.20 for the first time in nearly three years earlier in the day.

Lee's defection comes ahead of a showdown between Johnson and Conservative rebels over Brexit. Parliament returned from its summer recess this week with a cross-party legislation on its agenda aimed at further delaying Brexit and prevent an immediate no-deal departure from the EU.

In a speech in parliament, Johnson again urged lawmakers to reject the proposed measure, insisting that Brexit must take place on Oct. 31 even without a deal in place. The prime minister is reportedly planning to call for snap elections if he is defeated in parliament.

Johnson said there was "real momentum" behind the negotiations with the EU on possible changes to the withdrawal agreement struck by his predecessor, Theresa May, which was rejected thrice by parliament earlier this year.