the 31st of october, with i hope a much better deal. >> moments later, johnson demanded a snap general election to try to get a mandate for his plan. >> i then want an election. the public don't want an election. the country doesn't want an election. but this house has left no other option than letting the public decide who they want as prime minister. >> but his call for an election was then rejected. the series of events is an embarrassing rebuke for johnson, who has only been in charge since the end of july. just yesterday, 21 members of his own party defected, joining opposition lawmakers to take control of the parliamentary agenda. johnson was elected on the promise that he would finally deliver a permanent break from the european union, deal or no deal, on october 31st. this brexit saga has mired british politics in chaos and confusion since it was approved by a slim margin in a referendum