OPPONENTS TALK TOUGH; MAY’S STATEMENT:
Corbyn bid to bypass confusion on Brexit message
THERESA MAY’S political foes moved quickly to try and shape the campaign battleground for the weeks ahead.
Liberal Democrat leader Tim Farron presented the snap poll as an opportunity for disappointed supporters of last year’s Remain campaign to prevent a so-called hard-Brexit while his SNP counterpart Nicola Sturgeon framed it as a crossroads in Scotland’s history.
In contrast, Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn looked to shift attention away from Brexit, where the party has struggled to explain its position to voters, and focus instead on the economy and fairness.
The snap poll offers the Lib Dems the chance to capitalise on the party’s dramatic turnaround in fortunes since its drubbing in 2015.
Mr Farron said: “This election is your chance to change the direction of our country.
“If you want to avoid a disastrous hard Brexit. If you want to keep Britain in the Single Market. If you want a Britain that is open, tolerant and united, this is your chance.
“Only the Liberal Democrats can prevent a Conservative majority.”
Mr Corbyn had repeatedly insisted Labour was ready for a snap election despite its dire performance in the polls.
His response to Mrs May’s announcement was notable for the absence of any reference to Brexit over which the party has struggled to present a coherent position.
He said: “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 will be offering the country an effective alternative to a government that has failed to rebuild the economy, delivered falling living standards and damaging cuts to our schools and NHS.
“In the last couple of weeks, Labour has set out policies that offer a clear and credible choice for the country. We look forward to showing how Labour will stand up for the people of Britain.”
Ms Sturgeon and Mrs May have clashed repeatedly in recent weeks with the Prime Minister accusing Scotland’s First Minister of “playing politics” over her call for another independence referendum.
Ms Sturgeon said Mrs May was “clearly betting that the Tories can win a bigger majority in England given the utter disarray in the Labour Party”.
The SNP leader stated: “That makes it all the more important that Scotland is protected from a Tory Party which now sees the chance of grabbing control of government for many years to come and moving the UK further to the right – forcing through a hard Brexit and imposing deeper cuts in the process.
“That means that this will be – more than ever before – an election about standing up for Scotland, in the face of a right-wing, austerity-obsessed Tory government with no mandate in Scotland but which now thinks it can do whatever it wants and get away with it.
“In terms of Scotland, this move is a huge political miscalculation by the Prime Minister.
“It will once again give people the opportunity to reject the Tories’ narrow, divisive agenda, as well as reinforcing the democratic mandate which already exists for giving the people of Scotland a choice on their future.”
Caroline Lucas, the Green Party’s co-leader, said: ““Britain is at a crossroads – and today’s announcement means that people are rightly given a say over the direction this country is going to take. Only the Green Party offers a bold, positive vision for a different kind of Britain.
“At this election we will stand for an economy that works for everyone, not just the privileged few; a Britain that’s open to the world and the protection of our precious environment. We will stand up to the politics of hatred and division that is scarring our communities and give people across the country a chance to vote for a better Britain.”
This election is your chance to change the direction of our country. Liberal Democrat leader Tim Farron hopes to appeal to disenchanted remain voters.