All the times she said ‘NO’ to a snap election

All the times Theresa May said there shouldn’t be a snap election, before her hand was forced by die-hard Remainers in Parliament.

JUNE 30, 2016

Before she became PM, Mrs May was opposed to a snap election. Launching her bid for the Tory leadership, she said: ‘There should be no general election until 2020.’

JULY 12, 2016

Addressing party staff she pledged her determination to ‘build the support we need to go to the country in four years’ time, and not just win, but win big.’

AUGUST 30, 2016

Ruling out a second referendum, her spokesman said: ‘There is no need for a general election either.’

SEPTEMBER 4, 2016

She told the BBC’s Andrew Marr she would be ‘continuing the manifesto on which the Government was elected in 2015, so I don’t think there’s a need for an election’. She said there was a need ‘to deal with the issues that the country is facing and have that election in 2020’.

OCTOBER 2, 2016

In an interview with The Sunday Times she said it was ‘right that the next general election is in 2020’. She added: ‘This isn’t about political games, it’s about what is right for the country. I think an early general election would introduce a note of instability for people.’

OCTOBER 4, 2016

In another appearance on Andrew Marr the PM was asked again whether the Brexit debate was ‘the trigger for another general election’. Mrs May replied: ‘It’s not just about leaving the EU, it’s about that essential question of the trust that people can have in their politicians. The people have spoken, we will deliver on that.’

NOVEMBER 4, 2016

Her spokesman said: ‘There shouldn’t be a general election before 2020. This remains the PM’s view.’

MARCH 7, 2017

After former Tory leader William Hague called for an election, Downing Street sources said it was not something the PM ‘plans to do or wishes to do’.