LIVE: Theresa May calls snap general election

Left Foot Forward

Britain will go to the polls on 8 June

 

The prime minister has announced that a general election will be held on 8 June.

Under the terms of the Fixed-Term Parliament Act, two-thirds of MPs must vote in favour of the early election in order for it to take place. The prime minister will present the motion to the Commons tomorrow.

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn responded:

“I welcome the Prime Minister’s decision to give the British people the chance to vote for a government that will put the interests of the majority first.

“Labour will be offering the country an effective alternative to a government that has failed to rebuild the economy, delivered falling living standards and damaging cuts to our schools and NHS.

“In the last couple of weeks, Labour has set out policies that offer a clear and credible choice for the country.  We look forward to showing how Labour will stand up for the people of Britain.”

Liberal Democrat leader Tim Farron has issued a statement:

“This election is your chance to change the direction of our country. If you want to avoid a disastrous Hard Brexit. If you want to keep Britain in the Single Market. If you want a Britain that is open, tolerant and united, this is your chance. Only the Liberal Democrats can prevent a Conservative majority.”

Green Party co-leader Caroline Lucas said:

“Britain is at a crossroads – and today’s announcement means that people are rightly given a say over the direction this country is going to take. Only the Green Party offers a bold, positive vision for a different kind of Britain. At this election we will stand for an economy that works for everyone, not just the privileged few; a Britain that’s open to the world and the protection of our precious environment. We will stand up to the politics of hatred and division that is scarring our communities and give people across the country a chance to vote for a better Britain.”

Nicola Sturgeon has tweeted in response to May’s statement. It will be interesting to watch how the SNP manages its campaign, and how it affects the prospects of a second referendum.

More to follow…

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6 Responses to “LIVE: Theresa May calls snap general election”

  1. Fred

    And the Labour Party is poised to take power and usher in a bright new Socialist future! Hahahaha!

  2. Fred

    My prediction of the future:

    Labour are annihilated at the polls, with the worst performance in over 50 years. Corbyn resigns. An ill-thought out leadership election results in another leader no-one wants. Little improvement in polls. More head scratching. Tinkering around the edges with various gimmicky policy announcements that fail to bite. Two years on. More head scratching. Civil war within the party between SWP types and moderates. Complete disarray. At least another 10 years to reform the party and find a Blair-like leader and centerist policies that have popular appeal.

  3. Richard MacKinnon

    Fred,
    I think its going to be a lot worse than that. If McCluskey wins the unite vote on Friday, if McDonnell holds his seat in June I can see the Labour Party die. When you consider Iraq and Gordon Brown’s moral compass it is only what they deserve.

  4. Hilmon

    Elections are always a gamble (at least in the UK). Mrs May is praying that (1) there are no decisive distractions from politics in Europe or elsewhere and (2) that no charismatic leaders take this opportunity to grab the message. Such charisma may come from within her own party as much as from the no-hopers. Failing that, our future is not as a northern version of the Cayman Islands; we are destined to be a northern banana republic.

  5. ted francis

    Heaven help us. All we can hope is that Labour holds the majority of their current seats and that the Lib-Dems increase theirs to ensure that the Head Teacher has her majority whittled down even further. If not, the future will look very bleak for the majority of families of this country. Like many “devout, practising Christians” May has a broad streak of hypocrisy when it comes to policies that affect the lives of “ordinary people”, add to this her blind stubbornness and future prospects look very gloomy.
    The outcome of a Brexit negotiated by her team will almost certainly result in an internationally relegated Britain or should I say, England-Wales.

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