Why do we need a general election now?

[SpiceAddict]

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

I'm amused at the suggestions that the Tories will win more seats in Scotland. Or that the Lib Dems will.Tim Farron accused Scots of leading the way in personal abuse in politics. Insulting the electorate rarely translates into votes and meanwhile Ruth has dented her cuddly Conservative image by supporting the rape clause.
It's also funny to see posters who agreed with May that a second IndyRef would be de-stabilising are now supporting another GE.

The unknown is UKIP. With labour being unelectable, if they are able to shift their position to be a legit alternative it's going to be interesting. They would be a different kind of opposition and if they shifted in the right way they would make an interesting opposition to May. The first thing they need to do is get rid of their leader and get Farage heavily involved.

I don't like any of the politics in the U.K. at the moment. We need an opposition to challenge the tories on leaving the EU and cuts to the NHS and benefits. Of all the parties out there to oppose the tories labour are not doing it, Lib Dems are hopeless so the only ones left are UKIP.

If labour were smart they would sent Corbin to North Korea on a 12 week mission and put anyone else in charge. Personally I'd like Frank Field but any will do.

sorry if it's been said already - but we dont. The tories could lose their majority because of what happened with election expenses. They see an opportunity to increase their majority and guarantee another 5 years of mismanagement.

Yeah AllMyBestFriends, I get really very bored with the "Labour caused the global financial crisis" droning too.

I dont support another GE - all this is done is stop a deal on brexit( for a while at least) and a chance for the Tories to demolish labour. That is all. its not needed really. this is not a good thing for the country ( in my opinion, not worth that much!)

This GE won't be destabilising, because it is so unlikely there will be any doubt about the result.

And the Tories did come second in quite a lot of Scottish constituencies. So it's quite possible that even a slim increase in vote share might tip them a seat or two.

AllMyFriends Yes there was a global financial crisis. Yes other parties would probably have bailed out the banks. But other countries did better during or post-crisis than we did, so not unreasonable to suggest Labour contributed to the financial state inherited by the coalition. And who was it sold off half our gold reserves at the lowest price in decades? One Gordon Brown Esq.

"Yeah AllMyBestFriends, I get really very bored with the "Labour caused the global financial crisis" droning too."

So do I. Because the (usual) point is that Labour's actions meant that Britain did much worse than it should have. And deflecting that to a completely different point is on a par with Blair, when asked about how Labour used spin on the dodgy dossier actually denied fabricating intelligence - a totally different point.

I have no idea how it's cynical or dishonest. It's a general election in a country with free votes. She's obviously calling it now because she thinks she can win, but that is not dishonesty.

I guess that the Tories gaining a larger majority (as they're very likely to) will be seen as legitimising leaving the EU again.

The unknown is UKIP.

UKIP is in an even worse mess than Labour with physical fighting among their members, internal factions in conflict and rumours their only MP is intending to defect back to the Tories.

The LibDems have been clear and decisive against Brexit since the vote and have also provided a clear headed and sober opposition to Conservative policy (unlike Sturgeon's aggressive ya boo sucks approach).

I suspect this election may see a resurgence of the Lib Dem vote, especially around London.

I sincerely hope that the Tories don't win!!!!

The inhumane devastation that they have afflicted on many in this country is horrendous.

Someone mentioned further up they don't know what Labour's policies are, Google them, they have been public for weeks.

For those who think that Labour will lose just on having Jeremy Corbyn as leader, in my opinion, he was voted into his position by thousands of the Labour membership, which he has bolstered massively since he became leader, yes Labour has been in disarray down to the Blairites not listening to what people need.

I have no idea how it's cynical or dishonest. It's a general election in a country with free votes. She's obviously calling it now because she thinks she can win, but that is not dishonesty.

I think the dishonesty is that she said repeatedly she would not call an early election. Her excuse about opposition to Brexit is absurd given Article 50 was waved through anyway. Also any idea that this will give her a stronger negotiating hand is silly, why would EU27 care what majority she has?

I'm not sure that tactically this is the right move. Of course she will win, but it seems likely that even Corbyn will not be able to hang on afterwards and his supporters I think won't have time to alter the rules to ensure a similar successor. So rather than facing Corbyn Mark 2 in 2020 she might be facing a credible candidate in 2022.

@HPFA

She did, but the small majority she has has meant that the backbenchers have a lot of power over her. Things change and a large majority will make her negotiations easier meaning a better outcome for us all.

diaimchlo Labour membership grew after the 2015 general election and it is those new members that put Corbyn in place and kept him there. However, Labour membership has fallen since the summer and 3/4 of those leaving are those "new joiners" who clearly are already disillusioned with their leader (or were Tories who joined just to get him elected knowing it would give them no opposition). There was another tranche of leavers following Corbyn's weak showing in the referendum campaign. Financial donations to the Lib Dems were higher than to Labour in the last quarter of 2016 - this has NEVER happened since the formation of the LDs - and their membership has continued to grow.

If the Tories do win, it won't be because of their policies. It will be because the electorate punished the LDs in 2015 and because Labour have twice chosen a poor leader who can't provide the effective opposition all governments need. They chose the wrong Milliband then chose Corbyn. Of the current crop, only Sir Keir Starmer has any sense of leadership and maybe their best chance going forward after this election. That's if the Labour party is ever to return as a force in British politics - yes, I do think it's that serious now.

This is all about the party - the Tories wont let anything get in the way of the party. if TM messes up Brexit after this Election, they will fire her. no problem. The Tories are ruthless.

It will give her five clear years to enact the policies the country voted for, unfettered bu weak coalition under Cameron and the Lords.
We can but hope that by 2022 the mess caused by tax credits and non productive part time work are tackled in full, and wages rise to reflect actual work.

shellhider

Great, so we have a PM with low self esteem who needs reassurance then?!

Almost as bad as throwing a tantrum and calling a referendum on Europe.

Exciting news to wake up to. Getting on half the country supporting TM now. Around 72 Labour MP's with only 7 weeks left in Westminster. This is great news for the UK, we will have a stronger Government and it will give us clearer mandate on Brexit.

I cant wait to see the May Corbyn TV debates, the old man will need an ambulance on stand by. Party planned for election night.

Anyone who thinks this election has anything g to do with democracy is deluded. This election will be won the same way Brexit was, through lies, media manipulation and fear mongering.

Almost as bad as throwing a tantrum and calling a referendum on Europe.

Indeed.

I would be interested in anyone who earns less than £200k telling me what they think Theresa May's Tories will do to improve their lives.

It is well known that David Milliband was on his way back from the US. If he became an MP and then subsequently leader of the labour party then the Torys would probably be worried.

I wonder if it's something to do with the alleged electoral fraud perpetrated by a number of current Tory MP's (as well as all the reasons given by PPs).

She knows her party will win and it rather conveniently sweeps that mess under the carpet.

Things change and a large majority will make her negotiations easier meaning a better outcome for us all.

This is the bit I don't get. The negotiations depend on what EU27 is willing to offer us - I suppose May will say she has more of a mandate to just walk away but I doubt EU27 are that bothered if we do. And say we do walk away and it is an economic disaster and public services go to the wall - a credible Labour leadership will have a good chance in 2022.

Not saying all this IS going to happen - far too many unknowns. But do think it's a bit of a gamble for May.

Laughing at all the lefties complaining it's not fair the Tories are calling an election at the most opportune moment for themselves. Labour did exactly the same when they were in power and the same people moaning now would be spitting feathers if they hadn't.