British Prime Minister Theresa May has announced an early general election on June 8.
May, who succeeded David Cameron on July 13, 2016 just three weeks after Brexit vote, had reportedly said that she would not call for an early election.
May said she needs an early election because other parties are opposed to the government’s Brexit plans.
“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,” May said in a statement.
“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,” she added.
“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 party leader Jeremy Corbyn said.
To over-ride the Fixed-term Parliaments Act , Theresa May needs the approval of two-thirds of MPs (434 of the 650 lawmakers) for the early election. With the 330 Conservative MPs and 229 Labour MPs, May will have her majority in the House of Commons.
