British lawmakers back May’s call for early election June 8

LONDON — British voters will be heading to polling stations for the third time since 2015, after lawmakers backed Prime Minister Theresa May’s call for a snap election June 8.

The parliamentary election comes less than a year after Britain voted to leave the European Union, and will likely be dominated by the political and economic upheaval spawned by Brexit.

May, who took office in July after an internal Conservative Party leadership race, wants the election to increase her majority in Parliament and consolidate her power as she faces pro-EU opposition politicians and hardcore Brexitbackers inside her own party.

Lawmakers voted Wednesday 522-13 to back May’s call for an election, easily surpassing the twothirds majority in the 650seat House of Commons needed to trigger an early vote.

May said the Conservatives would provide “strong and stable leadership” for Brexit and beyond, and promised to wage “a positive and optimistic campaign.”

Earlier, May said holding an election in June, rather than as scheduled in 2020, would “deliver a more secure future for our country” as it negotiates its departure from the EU.

Now that lawmakers have approved the election, Parliament will be dissolved at midnight May 2, 25 working days before the election.

The opposition Labour Party and Liberal Democrats welcomed the chance to put their policies to voters, though the Scottish National Party called the election a cynical political ploy.