Latest: Boris Johnson fails in bid to trigger early election after hundreds of MPs abstain

Latest: Boris Johnson has confirmed his desire to hold a general election on October 15 – as he looks set to be defeated on a crunch vote on his plan.

Brexit today... in brief
• Boris Johnson’s attempt to trigger an early general election has failed.
• Legislation designed to prevent a no-deal Brexit on October 31 has cleared the British House of Commons.
• Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said the Bill must be passed fully before he will entertain a general election.
• Hilary Benn, who introduced the Bill, called it's passing “a major defeat for the Prime Minister’s damaging plan to take us out of the EU on 31 October without a deal.”