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General election: MPs ready to approve snap poll on 8 June General election 2017: May says it strengthens Brexit hand
(about 1 hour later)
Theresa May's plan for a snap general election on 8 June is set to be authorised by MPs later. A snap general election will help the UK make a success of Brexit and provide long-term certainty, Theresa May says.
The early poll is expected to secure the two-thirds Commons majority it requires to go ahead, with Labour's Jeremy Corbyn welcoming the PM's surprise announcement on Tuesday. Defending her decision to seek a poll on 8 June, the prime minister told the BBC she had "reluctantly" changed her mind on the issue in recent weeks.
Mrs May said that she wanted to secure the backing of the British people for her Brexit negotiations. Asking the public to trust her, she said a new mandate would give her the "strongest hand" in talks and make it hard for people to "frustrate" EU exit.
She told the Sun newspaper "political game playing" risked hampering talks. The move is set to be authorised by MPs in the House of Commons later.
The early poll is expected to secure the two-thirds Commons majority it requires to go ahead following Mrs May's surprise announcement on Tuesday.
The next general election had been expected in 2020, but the Fixed Term Parliaments Act allows for one to be held earlier if two-thirds of MPs back the move.The next general election had been expected in 2020, but the Fixed Term Parliaments Act allows for one to be held earlier if two-thirds of MPs back the move.
A motion to this effect will be put before the Commons on Wednesday afternoon. The SNP has signalled its MPs will abstain in the vote on Wednesday afternoon and Labour and the Liberal Democrats, while accusing Mrs May of political opportunism, have welcomed the prospect of an early election.
The SNP has signalled its MPs will abstain in the vote, but Labour and the Liberal Democrats have welcomed the early election. Mrs May, who has repeatedly said since becoming PM in July that she would not hold an early election, told BBC Radio 4's Today that "no politician wanted to hold an election for the sake of it" and there were risks involved in doing so.
But she insisted that she trusted the British public "and I am asking them to put their trust in me".
She said she believed, more than ever, that "strong leadership" was required to secure a successful outcome to the two-year process of leaving the EU and taking the UK in a new direction afterwards, both at home and abroad.
"I genuinely came to this decision reluctantly having looked at the circumstances and having looked ahead at the process of negotiation. I want this country to be able to play the strongest hand possible in those negotiations and be in a position to get the best possible deal.
"That is in our long-term interest. That is what this is about."
'Meeting voters'
The election would not be a re-run of last year's referendum, she argued, saying there could be no "turning back" on that decision but if she was re-elected, it would be a vote of confidence in her government's central goals of gaining "control" of the UK's laws, borders and money.
She also ruled out taking part in TV debates with Jeremy Corbyn and her other political opponents, saying she believed elections were all about "getting out and about and meeting voters" and, in her words, "knocking on doors".
Opposition parties have highlighted Mrs May's U-turn after she had previously insisted she would not be calling an early poll, but Mr Corbyn said it was a chance to get a government that puts "the majority first".Opposition parties have highlighted Mrs May's U-turn after she had previously insisted she would not be calling an early poll, but Mr Corbyn said it was a chance to get a government that puts "the majority first".
Opponents also accused Mrs May of ducking out of TV debates during the campaign, after a Downing Street source said she would not be taking part. Opponents have also accused Mrs May of "running scared" by refusing to take part in TV debates during the campaign.
AnalysisAnalysis
By BBC political editor Laura KuenssbergBy BBC political editor Laura Kuenssberg
Senior government sources point to a specific factor that changed the prime minister's calculation on an early election.Senior government sources point to a specific factor that changed the prime minister's calculation on an early election.
The end of the likely tortuous Article 50 negotiations is a hard deadline set for March 2019.The end of the likely tortuous Article 50 negotiations is a hard deadline set for March 2019.
Under the Fixed Term Parliaments Act, that's when the Tories would be starting to prepare for a general election the following year, with what one cabinet minister described as certain "political needs".Under the Fixed Term Parliaments Act, that's when the Tories would be starting to prepare for a general election the following year, with what one cabinet minister described as certain "political needs".
In other words, the government would be exposed to hardball from the EU because ministers would be desperate to avoid accepting anything that would be politically unpopular, or hold the Brexit process up, at the start of a crucial election cycle.In other words, the government would be exposed to hardball from the EU because ministers would be desperate to avoid accepting anything that would be politically unpopular, or hold the Brexit process up, at the start of a crucial election cycle.
Ministers say that's the central reason for Mrs May's change of heart because "if there was an election in three years, we'd be up against the clock".Ministers say that's the central reason for Mrs May's change of heart because "if there was an election in three years, we'd be up against the clock".
Read Laura's latest blog in fullRead Laura's latest blog in full
In her interview with the Sun on Wednesday, Mrs May said "political game playing" risked hampering her Brexit negotiations, with some opponents "trying to stop us every step of the way".
Explaining her U-turn, she said she had had a "real opportunity to think this through" during a walking holiday in Wales with her husband over Easter.
"What I hope comes out of the election is support from the public to say we agree with their plan for Brexit, so that when I go into Europe I've got that backing of the British people," she added.
The PM also said the timing of a 2020 general election could hamper Brexit talks.
She added: "If we're negotiating at a point that is quite close to a general election, I think the Europeans might have seen that as a time of weakness when they could push us.
"Now we will be much freer."
World leaders
Home Secretary Amber Rudd told the BBC securing a stronger majority would give the PM "the opportunity to arrive at potential compromises within the EU".Home Secretary Amber Rudd told the BBC securing a stronger majority would give the PM "the opportunity to arrive at potential compromises within the EU".
Ms Rudd and Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson were told about the election announcement prior to Mrs May's cabinet meeting on Tuesday.Ms Rudd and Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson were told about the election announcement prior to Mrs May's cabinet meeting on Tuesday.
Brexit Secretary David Davis and Chancellor Philip Hammond are believed to have been the only ministers who were extensively consulted.Brexit Secretary David Davis and Chancellor Philip Hammond are believed to have been the only ministers who were extensively consulted.
BBC political editor Laura Kuenssberg said there were ministers around the cabinet table who had had no idea and were visibly shocked when Mrs May told them. BBC political editor Laura Kuenssberg said there were ministers around the cabinet table on Tuesday morning who had had no idea and were visibly shocked when Mrs May told them.
On Tuesday evening, Mrs May made a series of courtesy calls to world leaders, including German Chancellor Angela Merkel and US President Donald Trump, who wished "the British people the best of luck in their electoral process".On Tuesday evening, Mrs May made a series of courtesy calls to world leaders, including German Chancellor Angela Merkel and US President Donald Trump, who wished "the British people the best of luck in their electoral process".
Shadow chancellor John Mc Donnell said Labour MPs would support today's vote in Parliament to trigger an election, which was "an opportunity for removing a Tory government and replacing it with a Labour government. Shadow chancellor John McDonnell said Labour MPs would support today's vote in Parliament to trigger an election, which was "an opportunity for removing a Tory government and replacing it with a Labour government".
Labour election pledges
He said the government had a mandate for Brexit, but not for the hard Brexit currently pursued.He said the government had a mandate for Brexit, but not for the hard Brexit currently pursued.
Labour wanted the government to negotiate with the EU for tariff-free access to the single market, "to protect jobs and the economy overall"; managed and fair immigration; and to maximise the benefits from the customs union, he said. Labour wanted the government to negotiate with the EU for tariff-free access to the single market.
But the election, he said, was really about the government seeing "the economy is going to turn, we are seeing inflation increasing, wages stagnate and people in heavy debt. They know... they'll be deeply unpopular." But the election, he said, was really about the government seeing "the economy is going to turn, we are seeing inflation increasing, wages stagnate and people in heavy debt. They know... they'll be deeply unpopular".
Labour's election manifesto would set out plans for a pay ratio - to control pay difference from the top to bottom earners in a company. Labour also wanted "the corporations and the rich to pay their share" in fair taxation to afford public services, he added.Labour's election manifesto would set out plans for a pay ratio - to control pay difference from the top to bottom earners in a company. Labour also wanted "the corporations and the rich to pay their share" in fair taxation to afford public services, he added.
After Mr Corbyn had addressed Labour MPs on Tuesday evening, a source close to the leader said the party was in for "the fight of our lives" but there was a "very positive mood" among his colleagues.After Mr Corbyn had addressed Labour MPs on Tuesday evening, a source close to the leader said the party was in for "the fight of our lives" but there was a "very positive mood" among his colleagues.
BBC political correspondent Chris Mason said the leader had told his MPs: "I don't underestimate how much there is to do, we've got six weeks to do it, let's get out there and do just that."
'Selfish interests''Selfish interests'
However, one of Mr Corbyn's critics, Labour backbencher John Woodcock, said there was still time for the leader to quit ahead of the poll, "rather than lead Labour to defeat".However, one of Mr Corbyn's critics, Labour backbencher John Woodcock, said there was still time for the leader to quit ahead of the poll, "rather than lead Labour to defeat".
Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said she would be fighting the election "to win", saying the PM had called it "for selfish, narrow, party political interests".Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said she would be fighting the election "to win", saying the PM had called it "for selfish, narrow, party political interests".
Lib Dem leader Tim Farron pledged to fight for the UK to stay in the EU single market, and accused Mrs May of "bottling" taking part in TV debates.Lib Dem leader Tim Farron pledged to fight for the UK to stay in the EU single market, and accused Mrs May of "bottling" taking part in TV debates.
Former Business Secretary Vince Cable, who plans to stand for election, said the prospect of Mr Corbyn becoming prime minister was "utterly remote" and he could not foresee any circumstances in which his party might enter into a coalition with Labour.
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