May surprises with snap election call

BRITAIN’S Theresa May called yesterday for snap elections on June 8, catching the country by surprise in a bid to bolster her position before tough talks on leaving the European Union.

“We need a general election and we need one now, because we have at this moment a one-off chance to get this done while the European Union agrees its negotiating position and before the detailed talks begin,” the prime minister said outside her Downing Street office.

The pound, which had fallen because of the Brexit vote and plunged ahead of May’s announcement yesterday, rose sharply against the euro and the dollar after it.

Britain started the formal process of leaving the EU last month, but the negotiations are not due to begin for weeks, giving the prime minister a slim window to increase her support for the battles ahead.

Despite repeatedly rejecting calls from within her Conservative party for an early vote, May has now decided to take advantage of her commanding lead over the main opposition Labour Party in opinion polls.

May accused her domestic political opponents of game-playing over Brexit. Most of them oppose leaving the EU and May’s plans to withdraw from Europe’s single market.

“I have concluded that the only way to guarantee certainty and stability for the years ahead is to hold this election and seek your support for the decisions I must take,” May said.