United Kingdom
Related: About this forumMay calls snap general election for 8 June.
Only sketchy details so far, but widely reported.
Timeline from the Telegraph:
Breaking: General Election to be held on June 8
Theresa May has just confirmed that a General Election will be held on June 8.
May: 'The country is coming together, but Westminster is not'
Justifying the decision, Mrs May said: "The country is coming together, but Westminster is not."
'Division in Westminster will risk our ability to make a success of Brexit'
The Prime Minister said "division in Westminster will risk our ability to make a success of Brexit".
Why she changed her mind over early election
Explaining her change of heart on an early election, Mrs May said: "I have concluded the only way to guarantee certainty and security for years ahead is to hold this election."
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/04/18/breaking-theresa-may-make-statement-downing-street-1115am1/
The fixed-term Parliament Act means she'll need to get 434 MPs to vote in the Commons to dissolve Parliament.
The timing, less than a month after the local and mayoral elections, will raise a few eyebrows.
I'm wondering who's telling her "the country is coming together", as she obviously moves in very different circles to me.
LeftishBrit
(41,212 posts)And, as you say, how is she able to just announce it, given the Fixed Term Parliament Act?
Denzil_DC
(7,286 posts)The announcement and timing are curious.
Michael Deacon at the Telegraph observes:
As Theresa May says a successful Brexit can only be achieved with a big Tory majority - where does this leave Ukip? Will Nigel Farage and Paul Nuttall agree, and not fight the election? How will they counter Mrs May's argument that Brexit requires a Tory landslide?
Anti-Corbyn Labour MPs will be in a dilemma. Will they really relish voting for a general election? On the one hand, a general election represents their best chance of getting rid of Jeremy Corbyn. On the other hand, it also puts their own jobs at risk...
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/04/18/breaking-theresa-may-make-statement-downing-street-1115am1/#update-20170418-1117
I've seen no evidence of May having problems because of lack of backing in Parliament. This may be more aimed to forestall the Lords by seeking a clear mandate. She'll no doubt have been buoyed by recent opinion polls that give the Tories a healthy majority.
As the Guardian's Matthew Weaver mentions:
Then in her first major interview after taking office, she told the Andrew Marr Show last September that the UK needed a period of stability after the shock Brexit vote.
She said: Im not going to be calling a snap election. Ive been very clear that I think we need that period of time, that stability, to be able to deal with the issues that the country is facing and have that election in 2020.
As recently as last month Downing Street said that an early election was not going to happen.
https://www.theguardian.com/politics/blog/live/2017/apr/18/corbyn-cressida-dick-met-police-a-gun-may-not-have-saved-pc-killed-in-westminster-terror-attack-says-new-met-chief-politics-live?page=with:block-58f5e729e4b0e0ec04f02002#block-58f5e729e4b0e0ec04f02002
This will certainly add a few wrinkles to the local elections in Scotland!
muriel_volestrangler
(101,392 posts)If he does, then she'll use that for all the time he's leader, saying he has no confidence in himself or his party. If he agrees (well, if a significant part of Labour agrees to it), the polls say she'll win a big majority now.
It's cynically opportunistic.
SwissTony
(2,560 posts)Denzil was a couple of minutes ahead of me, but I thought it would be of interest to non-UKers.
Denzil_DC
(7,286 posts)The LBN post is here: https://www.democraticunderground.com/10141755410
ETA: Muriel says that post's a duplicate, so here's the earlier one Muriel started in LBN: https://www.democraticunderground.com/10141755396
SwissTony
(2,560 posts)Denzil_DC
(7,286 posts)a Corbyn critic:
Link to tweet
I will not be standing for re-election http://tomblenkinsop.com/2017/04/18/i-will-not-be-seeking-re-election-as-the-member-of-parliament-for-middlesbrough-south-and-east-cleveland/
Arron Banks has said he'll stand against recent re-defector to the Tories Douglas Carswell in Clacton, so that will be fun. Will Farage try to make it eighth time lucky by seeking election?
Corbyn and the Lib Dems have confirmed that they will back the no confidence vote tomorrow to trigger the election. I expect the SNP will, too.
Denzil_DC
(7,286 posts)Over the past twelve years I have had great fun working with, and getting to know, many wonderful local people. Together, we ran all sorts of local campaigns, from safeguarding local services to getting a new seafront. Local has always come first.
As I promised in my maiden speech, I have done everything possible to ensure we got, and won, a referendum to leave the European Union - even changing parties and triggering a by election to help nudge things along. Last summer, we won that referendum. Britain is going to become a sovereign country again.
I have decided that I will not now be seeking re-election. I intend to vote Conservative on June 8th and will be offering my full support to whoever the Clacton Constituency Conservatives select as their candidate.
http://www.talkcarswell.com/home/over-and-out/3246
Denzil_DC
(7,286 posts)It would have made more sense to call the election first, then trigger Article 50.
There were already problems with the Article 50 timing (as many pointed out) because of significant elections coming up in various major EU countries. The timing of initial negotiations has already stuttered because of this, and they were due to start in earnest on 8 June.
May has now given the UK and EU just 16 months to complete the negotiations.
On the plus side, we now get to enjoy 51 days of general election campaigning ...
T_i_B
(14,749 posts)However, with the opposition being in the state they are they are guaranteed to win a landslide.
And my local area is set to get a Tory MP for the first time since 1935. Can't see Natascha Engel being able to win re-election.
Denzil_DC
(7,286 posts)Link to tweet
The reason for calling a general election now? Because May knows a recession is coming and is getting in first
muriel_volestrangler
(101,392 posts)For me the personal decision is whether to retire now or in 2022 when Ill be into my 70s.
Ive decided that going now will give me the opportunity to do other things with my life and is therefore in the best interests of me and my family. I also think its best for the party.
...
David Lidington, the leader of the Commons, has just told MPs that there is no rule saying what should happen in the case of the Manchester Gorton byelection, which was due to take place on 4 May, after the dissolution of parliament, thereby electing an MP to a parliament no longer sitting. It is all up to the discretion of the acting returning officer, he says. But he says he would expect the byelection to be cancelled, as happened when this last occurred in November 1923.
Labour sources have already said it will be cancelled.
https://www.theguardian.com/politics/blog/live/2017/apr/18/corbyn-cressida-dick-met-police-a-gun-may-not-have-saved-pc-killed-in-westminster-terror-attack-says-new-met-chief-politics-live#58f62cd7e4b05776df18ecdf