Boris Johnson suffers another defeat as MPs reject short break for Tory conference
The defeat does not mean the conference will not go ahead, but the four-day event in Manchester will have to be "scaled back".
Thursday 26 September 2019 15:57, UK
Boris Johnson has suffered another setback, with MPs rejecting the prime minister's proposal for a short parliamentary break for the Conservative Party conference.
A motion for a three-day recess was rejected by 306 votes to 289, a majority of 17.
It comes amid anger at for him saying that the "best way" to honour a murdered MP was to "get Brexit done".
The Commons does not sit on Fridays and resumes at 2.30pm on Monday.
The Tories' annual gathering will take place in Manchester from Sunday until Wednesday.
Ordinarily, MPs approve a recess in September to allow the Lib Dem, Labour and Conservative conferences to take place.
But because Mr Johnson moved to suspend parliament at the start of September, the Commons was not sitting to hold a vote on it.
The Supreme Court ruling on Tuesday that the prorogation was unlawful and "null and of no effect" meant that the government then had to hold that vote.
Jo Swinson's Lib Dems held their conference in Bournemouth earlier this month, while Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn brought forward his speech to Labour's annual gathering in Brighton to Tuesday in the wake of the court judgment.
The defeat does not mean the conference will not go ahead.
But it does mean that Prime Minister's Questions will take place at its normal time of noon on Wednesday.
This is around the time Mr Johnson would have been giving his speech to the Tory conference, meaning the address will likely be brought forward.
The PM's official spokesman said he was "disappointed" at the recess rejection.
"For many years it has been the case that parliament has been in recess so that parties can hold their party conference," they said.
"As the prime minister has made clear, the Conservative Party conference will go ahead as planned."
A senior Tory source acknowledged the conference may have to be "scaled back" in places.
The source said local businesses would suffer as a result of the curtailed conference, with the four-day event estimated to be worth more than £30m to Manchester.
A Number 10 source said it would be "incredibly damaging" for the city's economy.
After the vote, Commons leader Jacob Rees-Mogg announced non-controversial business for when the House sits on Monday and Tuesday.
The Domestic Abuse Bill, which has cross-party support, will be debated on Wednesday.
A number of former Tory ministers, who are now sitting as independent MPs, voted against the recess.
Amber Rudd, Ken Clarke, David Gauke, Justine Greening and Dominic Grieve all opposed the motion.