Why do we need a general election now?

[SpiceAddict]

Conservative are obviously going to win. What's the point in doing this now?

[GattoColorCioccolatto]

Olive, sadly, I think they will win back seats in Scotland. Any shift in SNP vote that isn't a sharp uptick will be used as evidence that indyref2 isn't needed.

Tories don't mind appearing hypocritical as long as they win.

[LagunaBubbles]

she will give SNP a kicking too because scots are fed up of SNP/NS and her dictatorship - SNP are fucking useless and most scots are now fed up of their fuckwittery

Speak for yourself. You cant speak for "most Scots". I have no idea what the results will be but I suspect it wont be the "kicking" you hope for!

[BrandMombie]

Newbie to following politics, so not sure who I'm going to vote for, however I really want to make the right choice.
Will all elected make a pitch to the public prior to the election date? From what I can read online I can't seem to make sense of what they actually want to gain by being elected, or what impact it will have on the UK. Alternatively does anyone have any online information about the different parties that I could possibly have a read of please?

[Aderyn2016]

Lib dem manifesto isn't worth the paper it's written on. The public haven't forgotten the student loan mess.
Labour are a shower of shite. Hell will freeze over before I vote for a party with Diane Abbott in it.
Which means I'll be voting Tory. Never thought I'd say that.

[stonecircle]

Those of you calling TM ruthless and describing this as a cynical move - what do you honestly expect her to do? Wait until Labour are in a stronger position so it's a fairer contest? Come on! I'd expect any other party in power to take the same advantage of the position she's in. And, as a member of the Labour Party, I'm no fan of TM (or JC for that matter).

[LagunaBubbles]

And yes Tories will (sadly) win by a landslide which TM is well aware of.

[isittheholidaysyet]

I think there is a very good chance tories will lose. As all retainers will unite against them.

And people like me, who desperately want Brexit, but can't abide the tories and would never normally dream of voting for them, and can't stand their social policies, we have some serious soul searching to do over who to vote for.

[WhooooAmI24601]

She's called it now because it is a guaranteed shoe-in for her and gives her 5 years to sort out Brexit and because Labour are in such a mess they can't offer any sort of opposition.

[wasonthelist]

Newbie to following politics, so not sure who I'm going to vote for, however I really want to make the right choice.

A lot will depend on where you live/vote. If it is a "safe" seat for one party, anyone who doesn't support that part will have their vote totally ignored anyway.

[blaeberry]

I hope the lib Dems field a good range of candidates in Scotland as they are the only party I can think of that might offer an alternative to the SNP. There is a huge aversion to voting Tory and Labour is too weak. Lib Dems got a kicking last time due to their coalition so there was no effective opposition to the SNP. I am not generally a fan of the lib dems but I hope voters consider that they have been 'punished' sufficiently to bring them back. They obviously won't win the election which is fine as their policies are often more idealistic than workable, but they do offer some balance.

[wasonthelist]

I think there is a very good chance tories will lose. As all retainers will unite against them.

So far only the Lib Dems have been clear about wanting stop Brexit - where will the unity come from?

[EpoxyResin]

We need a liberal alliance; it's the only chance of taking significant seats off the Tories.

[FineSally]

Anyone who is already struggling should be afraid, very afraid. They will get a mandate for further cuts to welfare benefits, more pension reforms, more division between the haves and have-nots.

Brexit is just an excuse IMO.

I am in a real quandary about voting. I cannot support any of the main parties. We might as well all vote for the loonies to take over the asylum.

[Underparmummy]

She wants a bigger majority in parliament and therefore less opposition to her plans

[Underparmummy]

finesally - I agree - no idea who to vote for.

[Batgirlspants]

Well hopefully this will see the end of Jeremy Corbyn and finally see labour electing a credible sensible labour leader who can provide a credible and robust opposition.

[ThisisrealityGreg]

Oh my god we're fucking doomed :(

[nauticant]

It's because great uncertainty is coming, much greater than there is now. May knows she can firm up her position now but is unsure how much she'll be able to do that in the future.

May gives me the impression of being extremely pragmatic while unimaginative.

I'd summarise her position as a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.

[stonecircle]

Well hopefully this will see the end of Jeremy Corbyn and finally see labour electing a credible sensible labour leader who can provide a credible and robust opposition.

I really hope so Batgirl

[Batgirlspants]

fine whose fault is that though? No opposition worth its salt. That's what the country needs a strong opposition.

[tabbymog]

The explanation I heard on reversing the decision to leave the EU, by an EU diplomat, is that it's perfectly possible with the consent of all the remaining EU member states. They'd love for us to stay but their bigger interest, and it's the biggest worry on their side, is preventing any other countries opting to leave. To do that they have to make us leaving as disadvantageous to us as possible, and that's already happening.

Many of our scientists are saying they're being excluded from future funding plans and denied access to research projects. Foreign students, children of friends of mine, have changed their plans to study in UK and are looking to go elsewhere, with the drop in fees income for the universities. Germany has restricted free uni education to citizens of EU states only, instead of free for all.

Personally, I have dual citizenship through my Italian father but never had an Italian passport. I have now. If UK leaves the EU but stays in the EEA I'll be able to go and live in the EU. I'm looking at the financial aspects, it looks possible. I love Berlin, went to uni there, have many friends there, it's the cultural centre of the world for me. Maybe...

On the election, now is a good time. I'm a recently resigned longtime Labour Party member. I'd do it too. I was asked by a pollster recently whether I support Labour Party policies. I said I might if I knew what they were.

[wfrances]

she will never get my vote .

[IisaIambe]

It's about legitimacy. TM knows if she's officially elected, she holds more authority entering into Brexit negotiations. She didn't even win the Tory vote for a new leader, she won by default because the idiot woman backed out.

[badabing36]

Unfortunately unless she kicks a puppy in the face live on air, the tories are going to win.

Even if she does kick a puppy in the face I'm sure the media will spin it into being Jeremy corbyn's fault.

[Batgirlspants]

Indeed stone remember Maggie in the 80s? Unfortunately Corbyn won't piss off as he should so it's a nevesssry event to force him to go and fresh blood. That's if labour has survived this Trojan horse take over by the hard left. Hope so we did it before and can do it again.