Brexit chaos: London brought to a standstill during heated day of protests

The United Kingdom will go to the polls for the third time in five years after its Parliament overruled Boris Johnson's plans for Brexit. 

MPs from both sides of the House voted to block a no-deal Brexit, meaning the Prime Minister will now follow through on his threat of a snap election. 

London was brought to a standstill as a spontaneous Brexit protest made its way through the city, past Westminster.

Inside Westminster, Boris Johnson's Brexit plans were not only brought to a standstill as well - they came crashing down in a political blaze of glory.

A group of Johnson's own MPs, who rebelled, joined the Opposition in seizing control of Parliament to block a no-deal Brexit.

"If this house votes for this Bill tomorrow, the public will have to choose who goes to Brussels on October 17 to sort this out and take this country forward," said Johnson.

It was a brutal first day back for the Prime Minister, turning pear-shaped right from the beginning, with his own MP Phillip Lee quitting the Tory Party and joining the Opposition in the middle of Johnson's speech.

Johnson was startled because, crucially, the defection means he no longer has a governing majority. 

"It's about time we had some adults running this country," Lee said in a parting shot to a Prime Minister who, as promised, must now call a snap election.

"That would be the only way to resolve this and I can confirm that we are tonight tabling a motion under the Fixed-Term Parliament Act," said Johnson.

But it won't be straight forward - Labour must agree to it, and despite calling for one for years, it has limitations.

"A general election? Fine, but get the Bill through first in order to take no-deal off the table," Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said.

Outside, Brexiteers were fuming.

"I'm infuriated," said one. Another said they felt "absolutely betrayed".

While remainers were singing, "we're not leaving the EU".

All in all, there's a divided public, a divided Parliament, and a government that's lost its grasp on power.

Newshub.