Conservative MP Phillip Lee has defected to the Liberal Democrats ahead of a showdown between Boris Johnson and Tory rebels over Brexit.
Dr Lee, the MP for Bracknell, took his seat on the opposition benches as the PM addressed the Commons.
His defection means Boris Johnson no longer has a working majority in the House of Commons.
He said the government was “pursuing a damaging Brexit in unprincipled ways… putting lives and livelihoods at risk”.
Mr Johnson has vowed to leave the EU on 31 October with or without a deal, but a number of MPs against no deal have come together across party political lines to try to stop it happening.
They have submitted a motion for an emergency debate to Commons Speaker John Bercow, and if successful, they will bring forward a bill that would force the prime minister to ask for Brexit to be delayed until 31 January, unless MPs approve a new deal, or vote in favour of a no-deal exit, by 19 October.
‘Surrender bill’
Speaking in the Commons, Mr Johnson told MPs he wanted a negotiated exit from the EU and insisted there was “real momentum” behind the talks with Brussels.
He said he would travel to Dublin on Monday for discussions with Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar, focused on proposed alternative arrangements to the Irish border backstop – a key sticking point in the negotiations.
Asked to provide evidence of progress by several Tory MPs, he said he would not negotiate in public but reassured them he would give details of the UK’s proposals well before the end of September to meet a deadline set by German Chancellor Angela Merkel.
But he said the moves by MPs, including Conservatives, to pass legislation effectively blocking a no-deal exit on 31 October would “destroy any chance of negotiating a new deal”.
If the rebels succeeded in their aims, Mr Johnson said it would force him to go to Brussels to “beg for another pointless delay” to Brexit and he would “never” do that.
“It is Jeremy Corbyn’s surrender bill. It means running up the white flag,” he added.
No 10 has said the prime minister will push for an election on 14 October if the MPs succeed in blocking no deal.
But asked if he might simply ignore them and press ahead with a no-deal Brexit regardless, he said: “We will of course uphold the constitution and obey the law.”
Before Dr Lee’s defection, Mr Johnson only had a working majority of one in the Commons.
In a letter to the prime minister, Dr Lee said Brexit divisions had “sadly transformed this once great party into something more akin to a narrow faction in which one’s Conservatism is measured by how recklessly one wants to leave the European Union”.
“Perhaps more disappointingly, it has become infected by the twin diseases of English nationalism and populism.”
He said the Lib Dems – who back another referendum on Brexit and want the UK to remain in the EU – were best placed to “heal the divisions” and “overcome the challenges we face as a society.”
Welcoming her latest recruit, Lib Dem leader Jo Swinson said they would work together to prevent a “disastrous Brexit” which would do untold damage to the NHS and other public services.
Dr Lee’s decision to cross the floor – following that of ex-Tory MP Sarah Wollaston last month – was greeted with cheers on the opposition benches.
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Amid angry exchanges during the PM’s statement on last month’s G7 summit, Jeremy Corbyn urged the PM to “reflect on his choice of language” to describe the rebels’ bill.
The Labour leader said the UK was “not at war with Europe” and it was a no-deal exit which would see the UK “surrender” jobs, employment standards and social protections.
“His is a government with no mandate, no morals and, as of today, no majority,” he added.