Prime Minister Boris Johnson has lost a vote that would have meant an election was held next month.

Despite 298 MPs voting in favour of the plan and only 56 against, it did not meet required number to pass the bill under the Fixed Term Parliament Act.

That stipulates two-thirds of the House of Commons must agree.

It comes after he challenged Labour to agree to a general election and accused party leader Jeremy Corbyn of running scared.

MPs debated the proposal in the on-going deadlock over Brexit that has gripped parliament.

The government was earlier defeated by opposition parties and rebel Conservatives who want to block a no-deal Brexit.

The Bill they have put forward has now been passed up to the Lords.

Opening the debate on a general election, the Prime Minister said Labour's proposals to block a no-deal Brexit "scuppers any serious negotiations".

He claimed it would force him to "surrender" to the EU, adding: "I refuse to do this and it is clear there is only one way forward for the country.

"In my view, and in the view of this government, there must now be an election on Tuesday 15 October."

Labour had already indicated it would not support the election call - and in doing so, has effectively blocked it as rules require two thirds of MPs to support it.

Thanet South MP Craig Mackinlay intervened in the debate to attack Labour, saying many Labour MPs seem to crave EU vassalage and that voters had waited long enough.

He said the current parliament served no purpose: “It’s time for a general election."

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