British Parliament Votes In Favour Of Early Election
Theresa May, British Prime Minister[/caption]
British Parliament on Wednesday voted by 522 to 13 in favor of Prime Minister Theresa May’s plan to hold an early national election on June 8.
May surprised everyone on Tuesday when she announced her plan to bring forward an election that was not due until 2020, with the aim of strengthening her hand in Brexit negotiations for the country’s historic withdrawal from the European Union.
The Prime Minister needed to win the backing of more than two thirds of parliament’s 650 members in order to hold an early election.
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“I believe that at this moment of enormous national significance there should be unity here in Westminster, not division,” May told parliament.
“A general election will provide the country with five years of strong and stable leadership to see us through the negotiations and ensure we are able to go on to make a success as a result, and that is crucial.”
May enjoys a runaway lead over the main opposition Labour Party in opinion polls. A victory would give her a powerful mandate extending until 2022, long enough to cover the Brexit negotiations plus a possible transition period into new trading arrangements with the EU.
The snap election is the latest twist in a turbulent year in British politics, which was plunged into turmoil when the country unexpectedly voted to leave the European Union last year. The hotly contested “Brexit” referendum ended with the resignation of then-Prime Minister David Cameron.
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May formally notified the European Union on March 29 of Britain’s intention to leave, and has said she is confident of reaching a deal on the terms of withdrawal in the two years available.
