British prime minister Theresa May has called for a snap general election to be held on June 8th, despite previous insistence from the government that they would not be calling for an early election and would instead carry out their full term.
May inherited the prime ministership from David Cameron, who resigned in the wake of the Brexit vote.
Although a general election was not required until 2020, securing a mandate for her government could ease the transition as Britain prepares to leave the European Union.
In a statement given out the front of 10 Downing Street, May said that Brexit will require a united government:
“At this moment of enormous national significance there should be unity here in Westminster, but instead, there is division. The country is coming together, but Westminster is not.“In recent weeks Labour has threatened to vote against the deal we reach with the European Union. The Liberal Democrats have said they want to grind the business of government to a standstill. The Scottish National Party say they will vote against the legislation that formally repeals Britain’s membership of the European Union. And unelected members of the House of Lords have vowed to fight us every step of the way.“Our opponents believe that because the Government’s majority is so small, our resolve will weaken and that they can force us to change course. They are wrong.”
You can watch her address below:
Watch Theresa May’s full statement as she explains why she’s called an election for June 8 https://t.co/vROXWPPh4G pic.twitter.com/jphhGARPNH
— Bloomberg (@business) April 18, 2017
An early election will require the support of two-thirds of MPs.
Source: The Australian.
Photo: Getty Images / Dan Kitwood.
