Gee, I wonder if Trump will soon be golfing and campaigning for British PM May and a stronger Brexit mandate on the weekends at his Scotland resort.
1
Characterizing Corbyn as from the "hard left" is nonsense and a lie. Corbyn is a social democrat, not a "revolutionary" and this false description that the NYT continues to propagate says more about how it perceives it's economic interests as it continues to promote failed neoliberal austerity economic polices in the US and elsewhere.
2
This is going to be an extremely divisive election and will be all about what type of Brexit, Swiss, Norwegian, Turkish, hard or even train crash or something else. PM May is truly mistaken if she thinks this is going to put the country back together as we know the polls are so correct!
1
2 words ... HUGE MESS
1
The English seem to wish to turn their country into a freebooter nation ostensively applying WTO rules, while using leaky EU borders in Northern Ireland and Scotland to trade China knock offs for beamers, mercs and ferraris tariff-free. Perhaps, the illegal cigarette trade will find a revival.
Back to the days of Trafalgar and Sir Francis, ye ol' swashbucklers!
PS: The leadership shows little interest in the world beyond. Supposedly educated Brits with long careers in government and foreign service like Lord Haseltine choose to remain clueless and ignorant when it comes to important history overseas. The Lord recently proclaimed unflinchingly that Hitler was "democratically elected".
Back to the days of Trafalgar and Sir Francis, ye ol' swashbucklers!
PS: The leadership shows little interest in the world beyond. Supposedly educated Brits with long careers in government and foreign service like Lord Haseltine choose to remain clueless and ignorant when it comes to important history overseas. The Lord recently proclaimed unflinchingly that Hitler was "democratically elected".
1
Absolutely which I find funny as people thought Brexit was being anti-globalist but in fact it will be uber trade hence globalist.
The facts on the ground are that the Labour party is woefully unprepared for either a general election, or for being in power. In Northern Ireland, yet another election there seems only to deepen the political crisis and deadlock, whilst in Scotland, Nicola Sturgeon and the SNP will be playing a fine line of holding onto their many MPs in Westminster, whilst crying afoul of the fact that Theresa May rejected their demand for a second independence referendum as 'now is not the time', whilst now calling a snap general election. If the SNP put the matter of an independence vote in their Westminster manifesto, I see it hard to deny such a vote.
Basically a victory for Jeremy Corbyn and Nicola Sturgeon. Oppositions often are the ones shaping politics, even marginally but significantly; no-one would have predicted Cameron disappearance in no time at all, for instance.
I was just watching BBC on-the-street interviews with average people....one older working class lady I think may have got it right in saying that May's gamble is high risk and probably not going to work out well for her because all those people who opposed Brexit but failed to vote (the ones who crashed the government website the next day wanting another vote) will now come out in droves hoping to defeat her and somehow defeat Brexit, and, she said, more importantly, the price of everything in the shops has and is "going up".
1
Looks like Ms. May is fighting for each one more day she can "kick the can down the road" as one commenter framed the option.
AP reports:
"The European Union's executive says that Brexit negotiations will start after the snap election in Britain that the prime minister is calling for in June....
The decision came after European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker had a phone call with May following her election announcement Tuesday."
source: http://www.dailyprogress.com/news/politics/wire/the-latest-eu-brexit-tal...
Perhaps this should read more realistically: "...after May had a phone call with Juncker". Meanwhile the two-year clock keeps ticking.
Why wait? Her hand will never be strong enough. Her government seems unable to negotiate "the best deal for Britain", and they know it. Hence, we are dragging the process out as long as possible.
AP reports:
"The European Union's executive says that Brexit negotiations will start after the snap election in Britain that the prime minister is calling for in June....
The decision came after European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker had a phone call with May following her election announcement Tuesday."
source: http://www.dailyprogress.com/news/politics/wire/the-latest-eu-brexit-tal...
Perhaps this should read more realistically: "...after May had a phone call with Juncker". Meanwhile the two-year clock keeps ticking.
Why wait? Her hand will never be strong enough. Her government seems unable to negotiate "the best deal for Britain", and they know it. Hence, we are dragging the process out as long as possible.
very wise move by May. this will keep the EU from doing what they do best, dither. Britain needs a clean fast brake.
2
This seems like a very dangerous game that is likely to weaken her hand.
Brexit passed by, what, 52-48? That's a squeaker. And the pound has lost about 20% of its value since then, and as a direct consequence of that vote.
I'm guessing that quite a few people's opinions have evolved since last year, considering the disturbing parallel with the US political trajectory. There is zero chance of voter apathy or hand-waving about economic consequences this time around.
Brexit passed by, what, 52-48? That's a squeaker. And the pound has lost about 20% of its value since then, and as a direct consequence of that vote.
I'm guessing that quite a few people's opinions have evolved since last year, considering the disturbing parallel with the US political trajectory. There is zero chance of voter apathy or hand-waving about economic consequences this time around.
Why is the EU promoted as the best political idea of all time? It is a corrupt undemocratic institution, invented by politicians and bureaucrats, run by politicians and bureaucrats for politicians and bureaucrats. It totally ignores the electorate. No American would accept being run by such an institution so why should we in the UK?
The Prime Minister is misguided in thinking she can make this a one-issue Election. It is, after all, a General Election, and cannier politicians will use it to ventilate all subjects, not least the National Health Service and libraries (which have become a national embarrassment).
The situation is well-nigh anarchic. Some constituentcies do not have candidates, and that choice has to go through Parties' membership - and that with Polling Day in seven weeks' time. Here in Hove, the MP is out of kilter with the ruling Corbynites, and could be deselected by them. Meanwhile, there is a by-election in Manchester next month - and whoever wins that will have to stand again a month later.
Theresa May has unleashed more than she realises as one thing brings on another.
The situation is well-nigh anarchic. Some constituentcies do not have candidates, and that choice has to go through Parties' membership - and that with Polling Day in seven weeks' time. Here in Hove, the MP is out of kilter with the ruling Corbynites, and could be deselected by them. Meanwhile, there is a by-election in Manchester next month - and whoever wins that will have to stand again a month later.
Theresa May has unleashed more than she realises as one thing brings on another.
" undercut momentum for another Scottish independence referendum."- hardly.
I can't predict the result but I will predict Nicola Sturgeon's SNP will poll higher in Scotland than Mrs May's Tories in the UK. Who then has the greater mandate?
I can't predict the result but I will predict Nicola Sturgeon's SNP will poll higher in Scotland than Mrs May's Tories in the UK. Who then has the greater mandate?
Theresa May is a manipulator just as we have witnessed in the US, Turkey. There are few leaders in 2017, just phonies interested in their own vain glory. She won't get 50% of the vote so it is nonsense to already state that she will have a mandate. This is like the fake war in the Falklands, that Thatcher created. I am happy in one sense this will ensure that Scotland will not give her one seat and Northern Ireland will move closer to Scotland and seek its independence from the UK. After she leaves the EU what will be left will be England and maybe Wales - not much of a united country. Nonsense for her to state the country is coming together. The Scots know the Brits for what they are destroyers where ever they have colonized. As for she will have a mandate to get a fantastic deal with the EU is rubbish. Why would they give her and the UK a better deal now. The Brits like always want all the benefits without paying the price. Lots of luck. True, why not call the election before singing Article 50, simple to manipulate. Hey, just look at what a wonderful job Mr. Trump is doing - no health care, no legislation, but loves to sign meaningless Executive Orders. Stock market on the way down. We in many countries have no leaders just fake cardboard figures. Jim Trautman
1
Actually the Scots are Brits.
Good for her, the people and Brexit.
Is it just me, or is it bizarre that the British PM can just up and call for an election?
Under the Fixed Term Parliaments Act 2011 there needs to be a 2/3 vote in Parliament or a vote of no confidence to bring down the government.
Prior to that Parliament was dissolved by Royal Prerogative on the advice of the Prime Minister although I think there was a statutory limit to the number of years before an election.
Prior to that Parliament was dissolved by Royal Prerogative on the advice of the Prime Minister although I think there was a statutory limit to the number of years before an election.
Beware on what you wish for!!. She will probably get her large majority - but as U.S. politics shows it does not bode well for good Government. This has been true in many other elections globally with infighting becoming the norm.
1
Go ahead and get the vote over with already, this is dragging on for beyond any reasonable measure
What if they vote her out?
Then she's out.
Many maintain Britain does not need a snap election. The people aren't clamouring for Theresa May's departure, and her government isn't facing an existential crisis. She has enough support in the Commons and the Lords aren't defying her. The press have been merciful. For someone who wasn't elected, she is in a comfortable position.
She takes advantage of the prospect that Brexit is two years away and the opposition is not ready to beat her. If she runs for election in 2020, she could be unseated, especially when the negotiations with the EU turn sour and Britain might leave without a deal. Most of all if the opposition - Labour and Liberal Democrats - would get their act together.
She takes advantage of the prospect that Brexit is two years away and the opposition is not ready to beat her. If she runs for election in 2020, she could be unseated, especially when the negotiations with the EU turn sour and Britain might leave without a deal. Most of all if the opposition - Labour and Liberal Democrats - would get their act together.
2
I think this is right, May's decision is a political one. I watched PM's Questions this afternoon and it was all about consolidating behind her leadership. She accuses anyone who wants any scrutiny or say in the negotiations of trying to obstruct brexit while she gets "the best deal possible for Britain". The appropriate time for a snap election was after Cameron resigned.
The only downside for May in calling this snap election is that Labour will have a greater chance over 5 years to get its act together if Corbyn resigns. Which he should have done a long time ago.
The only downside for May in calling this snap election is that Labour will have a greater chance over 5 years to get its act together if Corbyn resigns. Which he should have done a long time ago.
2
Totally correct. The snap elections will "strengthen the government's hand" only at home at the risk that the United Kingdom disunites. England may find itself very much alone with Theresa, Boris and co.
2
It will strengthen her hand within her own party. As it is with a small majority she is being driven to 'hard Brexit' by her right wing MPs. If she increases her majority those MPS are marginalised and maybe a softer Brexit becomes possible.
You need to ask yourself why she has done this. The city reaction gives the clue. The May government finally seems to have realized that the EU is going to be completely unyielding on the essentials and therefore whatever package she can come back with is going to be a bitter pill to swallow for either the Brexiters or the British economy.
3
Another liar. She repeatedly said she was against calling for snap elections and would never, ever do it. But like any other politician -- and she's a carbon copy of Trump -- she lied.
2
It is being repeated by many, no, by everybody, that if May wins big she will strengthen her hand during Brexit negotiations. I wonder why it is thought so.
If a politician wins big, it strengthens the power she/he has within the party. It also frightens the opposition to come to terms (like Reagan). It will also makes possible for Parliament to accept whatever arrangements she makes. All of this power is internal and has nothing to do with the EU negotiations. They don't have to worry about her power, because she has no power over them. The EU is not trying to impose anything on her and, therefore, they don't have to take into account the extent of her authority. In a sense, she is the one who is seeking agreements and has to take what they are willing to give her, and their decisions will be based on what the EU things advantageous for them..
If a politician wins big, it strengthens the power she/he has within the party. It also frightens the opposition to come to terms (like Reagan). It will also makes possible for Parliament to accept whatever arrangements she makes. All of this power is internal and has nothing to do with the EU negotiations. They don't have to worry about her power, because she has no power over them. The EU is not trying to impose anything on her and, therefore, they don't have to take into account the extent of her authority. In a sense, she is the one who is seeking agreements and has to take what they are willing to give her, and their decisions will be based on what the EU things advantageous for them..
5
The only explanation for Theresa May's calling for the early elections could be to establish her own leadership in the party and the nation, and following this to negotiate a less painful Brexit from the EU. However, it's all a gamble at the moment.
1
It seems as though there was an immediate "buyer's remorse" right after the initial Brexit vote. What sense does this snap election make now that it is after Article 50 has been triggered?
5
...er...what? There is no evidence of 'buyers remorse'; indeed all the polling suggests that support for Brexit has increased.
Sounds like it should be a preview of the independence vote for Scotland.
2
One more thing which has just emerged: would 30 people being accused of being involved in unfair election practices favoring the Tory party in the 2015 UK GE by the CPS, count as 'a terrible thing' against the Tories? It would certainly justify their breaking another promise, not for the good of the country but to cover up party scandals.
If it was not unconstitutional to carry the UK through brexit just based on a very close EU referendum result, the UK PM would have never called an early GE. But make no mistake: her decision was based purely on calculation and partisanship. She would like to strengthen her hand during EU negotiations but what she will get is a campaign fought against her government's austerity-driven, divisive politics. And thank goodness everyone opposing will have a chance anew to cast their vote against the conservatives. Much like the democrats' fight back in the US.
If in the UK we stop sleepwalking into disaster.
If it was not unconstitutional to carry the UK through brexit just based on a very close EU referendum result, the UK PM would have never called an early GE. But make no mistake: her decision was based purely on calculation and partisanship. She would like to strengthen her hand during EU negotiations but what she will get is a campaign fought against her government's austerity-driven, divisive politics. And thank goodness everyone opposing will have a chance anew to cast their vote against the conservatives. Much like the democrats' fight back in the US.
If in the UK we stop sleepwalking into disaster.
4
I don't wish her well. I realize David Cameron, who I did have a lot or respect for despite his party affiliation, did get, and leave, the UK in a mess and he should be ashamed of that.
But if the Brexit could be reversed I think it would be more important than Trump being removed from office no matter how it's done. And even a nationalist victory in France would be weakened if not destroyed.
Heady times indeed.
But if the Brexit could be reversed I think it would be more important than Trump being removed from office no matter how it's done. And even a nationalist victory in France would be weakened if not destroyed.
Heady times indeed.
8
I am reminded of the letter that General Dwight D. Eisenhower drafted on the eve before D-Day, "In case of failure." It took great courage to write that letter taking the blame for any possible misadventure, and I can't help but wonder whether Mrs. May has the same ability to consider what her legacy might be as "the PM who will go down in history as having shredded the UK."
2
No, that belongs to David Cameron, the clueless dolt who put Brexit up for a vote, lost it and as a special added bonus lost Scotland as well.
7
The English establishment seems unwilling to accept that they have lost decisive control over Brexit's ending once Theresa May invoked article 50.
Snap elections in the UK won't tilt the balance of power at the negotiation table.
Snap elections in the UK won't tilt the balance of power at the negotiation table.
2
Go Theresa!
Yes, I wish she would.
6
I suppose in all likelihood the UK will bicker with the EU over money owed for the next two years ending with no agreement which will call for the 'transition period' Boris predicted the other day until a satisfactory solution has been found. That means the UK may be suspended in uncertain 'transition' for a long time to come.
1
Yes, Joan, I wish her all the best too! Finally someone to lead the UK the best way possible!
You heard it here first...She desperately wants a vote against Brexit - several reasons...
> Continuation of City of London as Europe's global financial capital
> Related - continuation of British Pound as global reserve currency
> Suppression of Scottish independence movement
> Reduction of future political threat from Sadiq Khan
...what blows my mind is how many folks think they've got this thing figured out
...what I've described is not at all certain - but as likely as any other scenario
> Continuation of City of London as Europe's global financial capital
> Related - continuation of British Pound as global reserve currency
> Suppression of Scottish independence movement
> Reduction of future political threat from Sadiq Khan
...what blows my mind is how many folks think they've got this thing figured out
...what I've described is not at all certain - but as likely as any other scenario
5
That's nonsense. If she wanted a vote against Brexit, she would not have acted like a coward to invoke Article 50. In the UK, Parliament is sovereign and would have to confirm the referendum result, which in itself is not binding. Ms. May could have acted like a leader, explained why Brexit is a bad idea, and simply put it to Parliament that Brexit would be off the table.
There's recently been a leadership deficit in western democracies, leaving a vacuum that demagogues have willingly filled, with the UK a prime example.
There's recently been a leadership deficit in western democracies, leaving a vacuum that demagogues have willingly filled, with the UK a prime example.
3
Sometimes Americans forget what freedom means.
8
Theresa May will win in a landslide. That's even without the UKIP supporters jumping on the Tory bandwagon to cement Brexit. The Tory majority backbenches will be packed to the brim while the opposition side will look like Deadwood on a Sunday, tumbleweed and all. There will be an opposition of course, but how effective will it be?
4
Yes, Theresa May WILL win with a HUGE mandate, simply because her opponent is a joke (any real description of his qualifications would be censored here).
She knows that.
She learned from the Iron Lady.
Oh, how I wish Maggie Thatcher back in power!
Brexit would NEVER have happened.
She knows that.
She learned from the Iron Lady.
Oh, how I wish Maggie Thatcher back in power!
Brexit would NEVER have happened.
3
Thatcher was a Euroskeptic of the first water. She'd've marched Britain out first good chance she got - but by God kept Scotland in.
3
Thatcher was a Eurorealist, not a Euroskeptic. She knew a good thing when she saw it. I lived in England during her tenure.
I also know the shortcomings, most importantly the common currency and the self-promoting bureaucracy, from first hand experience. That does not mean that Europe as an idea is bad. On the contrary. Europe has way more going for it than against it. Unfortunately, that will again only be realized once it is gone.
Moderation and common sense is what Europe needs right now. Take two steps back and then gather the speed for one giant leap forward.
Unfortunately, opportunists like May and LePen are too small to see beyond the horizon of the saucer they are vegetating in.
I also know the shortcomings, most importantly the common currency and the self-promoting bureaucracy, from first hand experience. That does not mean that Europe as an idea is bad. On the contrary. Europe has way more going for it than against it. Unfortunately, that will again only be realized once it is gone.
Moderation and common sense is what Europe needs right now. Take two steps back and then gather the speed for one giant leap forward.
Unfortunately, opportunists like May and LePen are too small to see beyond the horizon of the saucer they are vegetating in.
6
Thatcher NEVER would have approved of unlimited Syrian immigrants in and open borders of EU by undermining the wages of England's working class by cheap labour of Eastern Europeans. A British nurse friend has had no wage increases for years due to Polish nurses flooding in willing to take HALF the salary of British nurses.....my friend, as you guessed it, voted for BREXIT
Trump and May...the Axis of Carnage
8
The Carnage of terrible Liberalism and Labour, that's fo' sho!
Sure Brits. Live in your own paranoid little island. What didn't you practice this policy before empire? Didn't suit your needs then did It? It was more convenient to seek treasure elsewhere for your own society. They need to look at themselves in the mirror as do the French. Of course the colonized had no such choice.
5
Natrajan, Try and keep your comments to this century rather than any of the previous twenty or more. We're discussing Brexit. If you want to link that to empire why not link it to that tricky European period with Scandinavia in the eighth century, or earlier when the British rejected European Roman rule in the first century or embraced cautious peace in the first century BC? We know we have history but we have a present and a future too and it's quite legitimate for us to discuss that without referencing everyone we've ever been at war with or invaded (admittedly nearly everyone but we've been here a long time).
except the former colonised are jumping on the repression bandwagon with their new darlings, the shiv sena as a model for the new society...
Here's some light relief. It's probably too vulgar for the NYT, but the link will get you the picture. Kudos to The Guardian for printing it:
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/picture/2017/jan/26/steve-bell...
"Steve Bell on the special relationship"
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/picture/2017/jan/26/steve-bell...
"Steve Bell on the special relationship"
4
A larger Commons majority should improve May's negotiating position by relieving some internal pressure. The relatively weak hand the UK holds means difficult, potentially costly compromise is unavoidable. However, Tory politics says that 20-25 fringe MPs, implacable in their Euro-scepticism, are likely to disrupt any attempt to make necessary concessions e.g. ECJ jurisdiction during a transition period.
Worth remembering too that FPTP is likely to prevent complete Labour collapse (see SDP share of popular vote and number of seats won in 1983 election).
Worth remembering too that FPTP is likely to prevent complete Labour collapse (see SDP share of popular vote and number of seats won in 1983 election).
1
she's a smart lady. She knows she is going to lose big and that will put an end to brexit. She is sacrificing her own career for the good of the country and for that I applaud her
If only
1
Great Britain was a fine glorious country until the likes of Theresa May came on the scene. The world is changing. England will survive. She always has. England will persevere. Just do it without May.
2
tis better with May ! Love her !
So what happens with Brexit if May is trounced in a snap election? Am I insane to hope for the common people to pull back from the brink of catastrophe?
2
As the cost of actually leaving the EU mounts (possibly as high as £60 billion paid to the EU) and in recent EU meeting all 27 EU states affirmed that there will be no trade talks until that financial cost is settled, plus that two of the most important EU institutions, that being Banking and Health, now based in London, are now designated to leave Britain within a few months, all of these "costs" and others may be forcing Teresa May's hand - in calling for new elections.
But so many problems are now mounting up. Millions of Britains living or retired abroad, who voted to remain, feeling trapped if they lose EU status or must return to Britain. People in Gibraltar, who voted to remain, now concerned as the EU has stated Spain has veto power over whatever part of an ultimate agreement relates to Gibraltar. And many immigrants in England who are uncertain whether to stay or not, but now feel unwelcome there, due to so many who voted for Brexit imagining they were actually voting for all immigrants to be deported.
I'm no expert. But I suspect May's claim that "Britain is coming together" is more of a hope than a reality. It sounds almost Trumpian to me. So I wonder, given what I've read (and full disclosure, I'm in my 50th year of marriage to an EU citizen, who daily keeps up with the news from Spain) yes, I wonder, if May will actually achieve what she's hoping for in this vote.
There are many, many reasons why Brexit is a terrible choice for Britain. Stay tuned...
But so many problems are now mounting up. Millions of Britains living or retired abroad, who voted to remain, feeling trapped if they lose EU status or must return to Britain. People in Gibraltar, who voted to remain, now concerned as the EU has stated Spain has veto power over whatever part of an ultimate agreement relates to Gibraltar. And many immigrants in England who are uncertain whether to stay or not, but now feel unwelcome there, due to so many who voted for Brexit imagining they were actually voting for all immigrants to be deported.
I'm no expert. But I suspect May's claim that "Britain is coming together" is more of a hope than a reality. It sounds almost Trumpian to me. So I wonder, given what I've read (and full disclosure, I'm in my 50th year of marriage to an EU citizen, who daily keeps up with the news from Spain) yes, I wonder, if May will actually achieve what she's hoping for in this vote.
There are many, many reasons why Brexit is a terrible choice for Britain. Stay tuned...
6
A savvy move by May. With Labour trailing by 20 points in the polls, a high personal rating of her own, and the perception of a need for a stable hand at the BREXIT helm, one actually committed to BREXIT, she is likely to get a mandate of her own and see off those voices insisting she was not directly elected.
The timetable also blunts the timing advantage of the EU, which had assumed that the next GE would be 2020, while the UK was in the most difficult phases of exit from the bloc. This pushes the next election to 2022, when the UK will be past the most uncertain and painful parts of the exit.
It is an audacious if slightly risky move, but one worth the risk. If the polls hold up through 8 June, Labour risks being buried politically for a decade. In my view, Labour lost the political opportunity of a generation by not supporting BREXIT. More Labour voters voted REMAIN, but they were concentrated in the wealthier south and London; the entire northeast, which was also traditionally Labour, but much poorer, voted LEAVE. Labour hasn't helped its case by allowing the far left Momentum crowd to take control of the Labour message. Most electorates are no fonder of the far left than the far right.
Given the tensions between the Liberal Democrats and Labour MPs and members of the House of Lords who would like to undermine BREXIT, and the BREXITers who want the hardest of BREXITs, a true mandate via a direct election can best secure for May the clout to withstand both.
The timetable also blunts the timing advantage of the EU, which had assumed that the next GE would be 2020, while the UK was in the most difficult phases of exit from the bloc. This pushes the next election to 2022, when the UK will be past the most uncertain and painful parts of the exit.
It is an audacious if slightly risky move, but one worth the risk. If the polls hold up through 8 June, Labour risks being buried politically for a decade. In my view, Labour lost the political opportunity of a generation by not supporting BREXIT. More Labour voters voted REMAIN, but they were concentrated in the wealthier south and London; the entire northeast, which was also traditionally Labour, but much poorer, voted LEAVE. Labour hasn't helped its case by allowing the far left Momentum crowd to take control of the Labour message. Most electorates are no fonder of the far left than the far right.
Given the tensions between the Liberal Democrats and Labour MPs and members of the House of Lords who would like to undermine BREXIT, and the BREXITers who want the hardest of BREXITs, a true mandate via a direct election can best secure for May the clout to withstand both.
17
No one expected brexit to pass and it passed by little...Would be ironic if she loses this election In the brexit vote lots of people didn't vote so....I bet it is going to be interesting
She won't lose the election. Not because she is strong or Brexit is a good thing, but because Labour is pathetic (Corbyn is pathetic x2) and UKIP has nothing left to bargain with after May committed to Brexit. Now the best thing Britain has left is to give her a strong hand at the negotiating table. The strongest hand she can get is probably 2 x 2 diamonds, against a Royal Flush (put intended).
Britain will suffer for this, but so will Europe. It is a Pyrrhic victory.
Britain will suffer for this, but so will Europe. It is a Pyrrhic victory.
1
Elizabeth, if the purpose was to strengthen her hand, you may be right, but it does nothing to improve the chances of getting what she wants from EU. In this situation, she is the "petitioner" and not the decider.
1
If those who support Theresa May think the EU has any interest at all in Britain's growing pains, they need to think again. She does seem to be an echo of what Michael Moore was talking about in *Stupid White Men*, selling off public property for profit to please the financial masters and ignoring the very serious threat of climate change.
We can hope (what I doubt) that some personable public servant rises amongst the opposition between now and the end (three months, can you imagine) of their blessedly short election season. I don't think Nicola Sturgeon, the Scots Independence gal, will have quite the purchase to do the trick.
Still the world is getting so awful, we can hope the rightists and racists meet their match this time.
We can hope (what I doubt) that some personable public servant rises amongst the opposition between now and the end (three months, can you imagine) of their blessedly short election season. I don't think Nicola Sturgeon, the Scots Independence gal, will have quite the purchase to do the trick.
Still the world is getting so awful, we can hope the rightists and racists meet their match this time.
11
I don't suggest they could unseat Theresa May or the Conservatives, only that they could give her less of a majority which would mean she would have to listen to people who have the interests of people, not corporations and looters, at heart.
3
You're seriously quoting Michael Moore as some sort of template???
I think you need to change your comments before denouncing the Prime Minister and lumping her together with 'rightist and racists!!' Appalling comment!!
I think you need to change your comments before denouncing the Prime Minister and lumping her together with 'rightist and racists!!' Appalling comment!!
Not 3 months. Only 7 weeks! June 8th.
This woman needs to go. Anyone that would hold hands with Donald Trump shows a lack of character and has very poor judgement. She can't be trusted.
3
Don't blame Mrs May,in case you hadn't noticed it's YOUR weirdo president who keeps lunging for peoples hands!!
4
She now knows that BREXIT won't work out well, and she hopes to be elected out. Sad.
2
She wasn't for Brexit in the first place. Do your homework please.
8
It's a good call. Everyone was saying, the sky is falling, when the Brexit referendum was passed. In the ten months since, GBP has gained strength instead of crashing. The economy, at least in the near term, is holding up surprisingly well. And everyone is looking to Britain as the model of how to go it alone, and still come out ahead.
Theresa May is wise to trigger the firing shot now than later, since there will likely be longer term drag on UK economy once the hard bargain of Brexit really begins. Plus, if Scotland is really calling for another referendum, and passes this time, it'll be a huge blow to UK, not only in terms of national pride, but economic and cultural impacts will ensue as well.
This is perhaps arguably the best time to call an early election, and wrap it up under her belt before anything bad or major should happen. (Sooner or later, bad things always happen, Brexit or no Brexit.)
Theresa May is wise to trigger the firing shot now than later, since there will likely be longer term drag on UK economy once the hard bargain of Brexit really begins. Plus, if Scotland is really calling for another referendum, and passes this time, it'll be a huge blow to UK, not only in terms of national pride, but economic and cultural impacts will ensue as well.
This is perhaps arguably the best time to call an early election, and wrap it up under her belt before anything bad or major should happen. (Sooner or later, bad things always happen, Brexit or no Brexit.)
4
The GBP is at $1.28! It may have recovered a little bit lately but it's still firmly below what it was before Brexit.
1
May and the Conservatives will plainly win the election. Corbyn, and Labour under him, is an unelectable disgrace, supported by a narrow slice of zealots so consumed by ideological puritanism that they think "Blair" is an insult rather than the only time in living memory the left has been in power. The only party with the principles to oppose Brexit, the Lib Dems, is a tiny minority which will gain in this election, but not by enough. A substantial Conservative majority is the result of this election. But make no mistake. The country is absolutely not coming together. Those of us who knew we were being lied to about Brexit know when we're being lied to about unity, too.
12
You're seriously asking to people to consider the Liberal Democrats as a viable alternative? How many 'lost deposits' did you miss at the last general election??
1
Have you missed the Richmond by-election?
Labour is a disaster, so where is the alternative going to come from? The LibDems are the only historically pro-European party and supported entry into the Common Market back in the 1960s when both the Conservatives and Labour opposed it. Who are the young people and urban dwellers who voted Remain going to support in June? Labour under Corbyn? Please. The Tories under May? Not a very good option if you oppose Brexit. 48 percent of British voters supported Remain. That's an awfully large number of people who, at the moment, have few political options available if they live in England.
1
It boggles my mind to see Americans bemoaning the British departure from the EU as if it were some kind of disaster on par with the election of Trump. When both the left and right in Britain are united in their opposition to the EU then maybe the Brexiters might actually have a point. If the EU was so great the remains would have crushed the leaves. The British aren't a stupid people by any means.
6
But where would the comments page of the New York Times without the automatic knee jerk reaction to the poor the 'poor old Scots',the constant references to Empire,the use of Jolly Old England in every third sentence,the lack of irony, that were you to ask the average American citizen to cede their OWN sovereign right to make laws to an unelected legitislator in another country then there would be Armagedon!
Alas Americans don't travel,but they love to lecture other countries on how to run their affairs.
Tally ho,Benny Hill,Monty Python and all that!!
Alas Americans don't travel,but they love to lecture other countries on how to run their affairs.
Tally ho,Benny Hill,Monty Python and all that!!
4
I am absolutely baffled by the comments by (apparent) American liberals praising May. Why do you think she is a capable leader? Why do you think she is a "voice of reason"? Why are you shocked she acts as though Trump is a personal ally? Is it because she is posh white lady with Downtown Abbey accent?
Perhaps, in international and domestic politics, you should study a candidate's policies and history instead of judging on appearances. If you looked at May's career, you would see it is no surprise she sees a natural ally in Donald Trump. The real difference between Theresa May and someone like Michael Gove was she was smart enough to let the likes of Michael Gove push for Brexit and suffer the blowback for it. She could then step in, bridge the gap between Brexiters and pro-EU Conservatives, and become PM after Cameron's ignominious departure.
Perhaps, in international and domestic politics, you should study a candidate's policies and history instead of judging on appearances. If you looked at May's career, you would see it is no surprise she sees a natural ally in Donald Trump. The real difference between Theresa May and someone like Michael Gove was she was smart enough to let the likes of Michael Gove push for Brexit and suffer the blowback for it. She could then step in, bridge the gap between Brexiters and pro-EU Conservatives, and become PM after Cameron's ignominious departure.
7
I'm not sure where your CityBumpkin on Earth you came from, but don't presume safely that everyone who reads (and comments) on NYT is a liberal. And would you consider people saying praise to her for her early election call do not have any inkling of her policy or capability, and presume that everyone must be endorsing her move because, what, she's white? And then there is this automatic link between the aforementioned with any support of Trump?
If anyone should do a bit more study, it is yourself who have way too simplistic of the world (and worldview), and what's happening in other countries.
If anyone should do a bit more study, it is yourself who have way too simplistic of the world (and worldview), and what's happening in other countries.
Thank you!
@tiddle
Read more carefully.
Read more carefully.
The Brexit vote was based on fraud and lies, just as was the trump campaign. I think most voters here realize that now and have buyers' remorse. I wonder whether the UK voters will wake up in time to correct their mistake. I wish we could have a new vote in a few months. Maybe all of this nationalism is just racism and selfishness coming to a head. If so, we all lose. Canada is big; could it hold us all?
5
Liberals (Dems) of course know that Trump's campaign was all fraud and lies, but no, there was no buyer's remorse for those who voted for Trump, if that's what you're trying to imply. In fact, polls after polls in the post-election days still indicate strong support of Trump from his case, whether Dems and liberals like it or not.
As to buyer's remorse of those Brexit supporters, I rather doubt it. There were enough lies going around on BOTH sides. In fact, Brexit opponents spit out enough lies about how the sky is falling, should anyone vote for it. Guess what, ten months into it, GBP is going getting stronger. How do you square with that? There is no capital flight, there is no massive panic. Life goes on. While one could argue that it'll get bad if it turns out to be hard Brexit, but isn't that exactly what May has wanted to do (to push for soft Brexit)?
No one is stopping you from moving north to Canada. Why are you still in Sudbury MA?
As to buyer's remorse of those Brexit supporters, I rather doubt it. There were enough lies going around on BOTH sides. In fact, Brexit opponents spit out enough lies about how the sky is falling, should anyone vote for it. Guess what, ten months into it, GBP is going getting stronger. How do you square with that? There is no capital flight, there is no massive panic. Life goes on. While one could argue that it'll get bad if it turns out to be hard Brexit, but isn't that exactly what May has wanted to do (to push for soft Brexit)?
No one is stopping you from moving north to Canada. Why are you still in Sudbury MA?
3
Actually, both sides sold the electorate a pack of lies. You try going up to places like Boston Lincolnshire, Oldham, Sunderland, etc., and tell them how wonderful the EU is - just not for them, but oh well it is terrific for the London luvvies like Benedict Cumberbatch, and Tony Blair with his massive real estate empire, and the chic set living in Hampstead . . . so be a sport and vote REMAIN, eh?
3
Why do people such as yourself keep peddling this myth that the debate over the EU was based on lies and ipso facto the British public being too stupid to know what it was doing?The Vote had nothing to do with nationalism or racism (disgraceful comments).The main reason was the EU lack of democracy and the UK having given up too much of it's sovereignty.Just because you elected a megalomaniac,don't try to tar the British people with the same brush!
4
Brexit was a surprise. New elections maybe a surprise and turn out to be May's gamble.
1
BREXIT was only a surprise to those looking at Ladbrokes odds rather than, say, YouGov polls, which had the vote extremely close. Cameron knew as the day drew near he could lose it and that the polls had narrowed.
It was only a surprise if you weren't paying attention to the mood on the streets of places like Oldham. Even Manchester went REMAIN by a narrower margin than expected.
Calling a snap election is always a gamble, but given where the Corbyn leadership has kept Labour in the UK polls, I for one would just love her odds in the next big Powerball lottery game.
It was only a surprise if you weren't paying attention to the mood on the streets of places like Oldham. Even Manchester went REMAIN by a narrower margin than expected.
Calling a snap election is always a gamble, but given where the Corbyn leadership has kept Labour in the UK polls, I for one would just love her odds in the next big Powerball lottery game.
3
Jeremy Corbyn may go down in history as the finest Labour leader the Conservative Party ever had.
4
Corbyn is best left alone to tend to his garden in his own backyard. He's a good man, but he's not a leader, never mind one that needs to lead a party, if not a country.
3
"There will always be an England."
God save the Queen.
God save the Queen.
2
What happens if she loses the election?
2
For her to lose the election there would have to be some unimaginable Armageddon happening in a little more than a month. I'm not joking. The outlook from the other parties is that bad. The only safe is the SNP and they exist only in Scotland and already have it sewed up there.
3
We'll always have muddling through.
1
It would be like Trump being elected President - wait...
2
Meh. 'Tis a silly place.
2
It used to be a very fine one, actually - you know, all those poets, writers, playwrights, painters, great universities, and that once quintessentially British soul. Now it is just another Euro-mess.
1
No, 'twas always silly. Ask King Arthur about Camelot.
Oh, I will - and Shakespeare, and the founders of Oxford and Cambridge, and Isaac Newton, and the Brontes, and Waugh, and Turner, and Tolkien, and Lewis Carroll, and John Galsworthy, and George Eliot, and Stevenson, and all those other terribly silly denizens of the terribly silly place in which our linguistic and literary roots are . . .
3
Beware of that woman, she is incapable of
giving a clear message let alone a credible
and viable plan to the "Brexit" nightmare.
I left London in part because I heard her
pretentious take on how there was not
such a thing as a citizen of the world.
How condescending and backward for
someone that give the illusion to be a P.M
with competence and vision. I nicked name
her Theresa Mayday disaster for good measure.
giving a clear message let alone a credible
and viable plan to the "Brexit" nightmare.
I left London in part because I heard her
pretentious take on how there was not
such a thing as a citizen of the world.
How condescending and backward for
someone that give the illusion to be a P.M
with competence and vision. I nicked name
her Theresa Mayday disaster for good measure.
14
She was right. And BREXIT is probably not going to be a nightmare once sorted.
All politics is local. So is citizenry, although I know the left does not accept the reality. That is why the left is on its way out across Europe and America.
All politics is local. So is citizenry, although I know the left does not accept the reality. That is why the left is on its way out across Europe and America.
5
"That is why the left is on its way out across Europe and America."
If wishes were horses...
If wishes were horses...
2
So Britain joins Turkey as a pariah state where democracy has ended. Theresa May declared this morning that "I am not prepared to allow opponents to jeopardise Brexit negotiations". Translation: I'm hoping we will end any opposition in British politics.
8
Dear god, are you serious? It is a free election: the electorate voted last year to exit the EU. It is the politicians using BREXIT as levers for their personal political aims - another indy/ref for the SNP, revival of their political fortunes for the Lib Dems - who are the real enemies of democracy.
She is quite right: opponents of BREXIT will try to undermine it, and with it, poke a stick in the eye of the 17.4 million voters who cast their vote for LEAVE.
What ails you people? It is an ELECTION. No one will be standing there forcing people to vote Conservative. If May is to have a strong hand to play against an EU that would like to see Britain starve to death for voting LEAVE, she needs a mandate.
It is not some sort of evil plot. It is a free election, in Britain, in the 21st century, and May has to head up the exit from the EU.
Perhaps you would prefer it if the 17.4 million voters that the London set would like to disenfranchise were just rounded up and shot?
She is quite right: opponents of BREXIT will try to undermine it, and with it, poke a stick in the eye of the 17.4 million voters who cast their vote for LEAVE.
What ails you people? It is an ELECTION. No one will be standing there forcing people to vote Conservative. If May is to have a strong hand to play against an EU that would like to see Britain starve to death for voting LEAVE, she needs a mandate.
It is not some sort of evil plot. It is a free election, in Britain, in the 21st century, and May has to head up the exit from the EU.
Perhaps you would prefer it if the 17.4 million voters that the London set would like to disenfranchise were just rounded up and shot?
6
So you would allow her to overturn the democratic vote of an entire nation? Of course she is going to defend Brexit.What do you think democracy is if she is not defending the rights of the majority??? Bizarre comment.
1
I will enjoy her win since it will ensure that Scotland and Northern Ireland will leave the UK and for good the sun will have set on the British Empire. You love to comment if she can leave the EU, then she has no right to stop the Scots or Northern Ireland and Ireland will be what it once was before the British butchered and took it. Yes, she will win more seats with 42% of the vote which means 58% voted against her. The progressive nations of the West, Nordic countries, Germany have real democratic systems of government, even Australia. She won't have a mandate, but will ensure like in the US the anger, poison will fester some more. I await the day when the Blue states leave and watch the Red states struggle to survive. Do you think London will still be the banking center of Europe once they leave think again, it is only now since it is connected to the EU. May hates immigrants and will pay the price. Just like the US has for Trump. Jim Trautman
And if she loses what then? A government that is not committed to following through on leaving the European Union? And what then?
3
I am English and I know and she knows that she will get in with a bigger majority...
3
When Britain really exits the E.U., they should also be forced to REVERT back to British units of weights and measurements.
Either relinquish the Metric standards completely or pay licensing fees to the E.U. to use metric units. Everything that is made and sold by English companies would have to labeled in their units exclusively. From nuts and bolts to aircraft and ships; from shoes and clothing to engineering and tooling.
They want to be their own island of NO DEPENDENCE on the E.U., then they should depend on standards of their own making...!
Either relinquish the Metric standards completely or pay licensing fees to the E.U. to use metric units. Everything that is made and sold by English companies would have to labeled in their units exclusively. From nuts and bolts to aircraft and ships; from shoes and clothing to engineering and tooling.
They want to be their own island of NO DEPENDENCE on the E.U., then they should depend on standards of their own making...!
4
Bring back Whitworth!
If it was good enough for my ancient Triumph, it's good enough for post-Brexit England.
If it was good enough for my ancient Triumph, it's good enough for post-Brexit England.
2
You believe in "forcing" people do you?? Odd!
3
We will, just as soon as the EU stops using English!
1
PM May is the firm, plain-spoken leader that Hillary was not able to be. The PM expresses her ideas with clarity, and you sense she is speaking from the heart rather than trying to evade, distract or spin. The Dems in the US can learn a lot if hoping to win future elections here.
11
Clarity? I won't call an election, I'll say it's impossible, until I get the commons under my boot clarity?
4
That is what you see sitting in San Francisco.
I see another hypocritical lying spinning politician who has only the interest of the Tory party at heart.
Examples:
Brexit is the most important issue for this country since world war 2. The negotiations will be extremely complex and require people of stature and expertise leading them. Theresa May has appointed three politicians who are wholly unqualified (Boris Johnson, Liam Fox and David Davis) and has seen an eminently qualified and experienced person (Ivan Rogers) resign his position as Permanent Representative to the EU citing "muddled thinking".
The NHS has undergone a massive restructuring under the Tory/LibDem coalition and at the same time is being underfunded. Ms May refuses to acknowledge there is any problem at all while there is an increasing sense of crisis.
Finally, she overtly professes her Christian values while quietly canceling a program to bring over a small number of lone child refugees.
She will increase the Tory majority in Parliament and remain as PM. But the ONLY reason for that is the lack of a competent opposition.
I see another hypocritical lying spinning politician who has only the interest of the Tory party at heart.
Examples:
Brexit is the most important issue for this country since world war 2. The negotiations will be extremely complex and require people of stature and expertise leading them. Theresa May has appointed three politicians who are wholly unqualified (Boris Johnson, Liam Fox and David Davis) and has seen an eminently qualified and experienced person (Ivan Rogers) resign his position as Permanent Representative to the EU citing "muddled thinking".
The NHS has undergone a massive restructuring under the Tory/LibDem coalition and at the same time is being underfunded. Ms May refuses to acknowledge there is any problem at all while there is an increasing sense of crisis.
Finally, she overtly professes her Christian values while quietly canceling a program to bring over a small number of lone child refugees.
She will increase the Tory majority in Parliament and remain as PM. But the ONLY reason for that is the lack of a competent opposition.
7
Brexit may do what 100 years of IRA terror tactics could not; unify the island nation of Ireland.
46
British taxpayers would like a united Ireland. Over 40% of Northern Irish workers are employed by the government. Its budget deficit is over 30% of GDP, Greece is about 10%. It's about money.
3
And it could quite easily ruin the peace process and send us back to the dark days of the 70s and 80s
1
Having just returned recently from a few weeks in the Republic, the anecdotal evidence I collected suggests that most Irish aren't too eager for the unification of the island. They look at the Northerners the same way the West Germans looked at the East Germans -- why ruin a good thing by taking on the economic, fiscal, and social challenges of their poorer and more heavily-subsidized northern neighbor?
Brilliant strategy ! Majority want to remain a power in the EU & understand the business implications. Look for a down vote and correction of the error last year. The 80/20 principal rings true in UK as well. A majority of 80% will be swayed to vote to stay as only 20% truly understand the reprucursion of Brexit.
3
Corbyn and his fast dwindling Labor supporters are handing the election to the Conservatives with a likely five year term. It will be interesting to watch how the LibDems increase their paltry number of seats in the House of Commons. UKIP likely has reached its nadir and will continue to decline.
We can only hope that the French elections upcoming, and Germany's as well, will put an end to the pandering to a vocal minority that wants to return to a "closed" Europe. Certainly the EU governing system needs revision with less power and regulations to a cadre of bureaucrats elected by no one.
We can only hope that the French elections upcoming, and Germany's as well, will put an end to the pandering to a vocal minority that wants to return to a "closed" Europe. Certainly the EU governing system needs revision with less power and regulations to a cadre of bureaucrats elected by no one.
5
Most of your post is on target, except the last bit. Succumbing to a huge centralized bureaucracy that has shown itself to be immune to reform of policies when it is clear those policies need reform, is not an "open" Europe: it is just closed in a different way. De Gaulle would be spinning in his tomb if he could see the EU he thought would be politically led by France completely dominated by Germany.
It was Angela Merkel who put that poisonous deal with Erdogan in Turkey through to save her political bacon when the backlash erupted against her migrant policy. She did not consult a single other EU leader but acted completely unilaterally, despite committing the EU to a huge payment to Erdogan. Is that what you call "open"?
Please - the UK has been "open" to the world for 1,000 years and will continue to be after BREXIT. It simply won't be part of the EU.
It was Angela Merkel who put that poisonous deal with Erdogan in Turkey through to save her political bacon when the backlash erupted against her migrant policy. She did not consult a single other EU leader but acted completely unilaterally, despite committing the EU to a huge payment to Erdogan. Is that what you call "open"?
Please - the UK has been "open" to the world for 1,000 years and will continue to be after BREXIT. It simply won't be part of the EU.
1
April 18, 2017
The will of the people is being sort for this election process, and is wise and that can and will give the people of England the right path to go together for the needed challenges ahead. Parliamentary is a superior governing process that all the world can appreciate. Let’s look forward to the best for doing great things for all the people of Great Britain
Jja Manhattan, N.Y.
The will of the people is being sort for this election process, and is wise and that can and will give the people of England the right path to go together for the needed challenges ahead. Parliamentary is a superior governing process that all the world can appreciate. Let’s look forward to the best for doing great things for all the people of Great Britain
Jja Manhattan, N.Y.
Sadly, this is the last thing that UK needs now. The country needs unity and stability but the election will just make the situation worse.
5
Which if you listened to the P.M's speech,is precisely why she holding the election!!!!!
2
Right - it will get unity and stability with an unelected PM trying to negotiate with a vicious Brussels determined to destroy the UK while the Lib Dems and the SNP do their best to undermine any and all negotiations so they can up their political game?
This is absolutely the right move.
This is absolutely the right move.
1
The only time a prime minister (PM) of the British commonwealth calls for an early general election is when they think they will win for sure. Earlier in this century a prime minister of India, Vajpayee gambled by calling for early general elections and guess what he and his party lost and it took 10 years before his party was back in power with Modi as PM. I am not sure that Brexit won narrowly is going to get that much stronger and that Theresa May and her party will win. May be, may be not.
Gee. Maybe Boris Johnson could crawl out of his hole and lead a populist movement to rejoin the EU.
He's good at talking the talk, about anything.
He's good at talking the talk, about anything.
What they really should be having a vote on is the monarchy.
No person should be raised in station over another just because of a hereditary bloodline going back to where one group massacred another in war,
I would know a little something about that. Troubles you know ...
No person should be raised in station over another just because of a hereditary bloodline going back to where one group massacred another in war,
I would know a little something about that. Troubles you know ...
I'm surprised you reported on Theresa May's call for New Election. This gives me hope. It has nothing to do with Trump. You seem to be obsessed with him and trying to put him down.
5
This is a smart move by May, and at just the right time. Recent opinion polls show more support for Brexit in the UK than ever, and Labour is led by an utterly incompetent and barely reconstructed Trotskyite. The zeitgeist is in May's favor; even on the continent, Euroscepticism is growing virtually everywhere, and for good reason: Treaties have been forced down the throats of unwilling citizens, un-vettable migrants by the hundreds of thousands have streamed across open borders, and laws and regulations are written in Brussels with little or no input from voters. The liberal, globalist dream of an end to nationalism and a centralization of power among a rational and enlightened elite has lost its allure. There is no single “European” culture: Witness the transfer of billions of Euros from fiscally-responsible Germany to spendthrift Greece several years ago, and you've got yourself a tidy metaphor for the sham that is the idea of a “unified Europe.” How what started out as a trading bloc and ended up as a Frankenstein's monster of bad ideas, unassimilable immigrants, and anti-democratic egoism is one of the most compelling and instructive stories of the last fifty years.
3
The RMS Titanic was a British registry with British crews.
Watch out for icebergs, Mrs. May.
Watch out for icebergs, Mrs. May.
8
People commenting on the "demagogic populism" of Brexit clearly have no idea how the EU actually works, or the frustration of people across the UK political spectrum at loss of national sovereignty to unelected Eurocrats. I very much sympathize with the British desire to pull out of EU institutions and re-assert sovereign representative democracy. A "hard Brexit" however, would not most likely not prove advantageous to anyone in the long run as Britain lost access to vital trade markets and customs unions. If Ms. May truly wants to put country over party she should ignore the Conservative hardliners and negotiate a softer Brexit that keeps Continental ties while allowing Britain to maneuver independently from Brussels and set its own economic policies. This would not only soften the immediate impact from Brexit, but also take some steam out of the Scottish independence campaign and keep the Kingdom united.
50
They need to go hard Brexit. That gives them negotiating power. There is absolutely not going to be any damage. The manufacturers on the Continent do not want to lose that market and they will put pressure on the politicians to make sure that there is trade. The workers, who don't want to lose their manufacturing jobs, will also put pressure on their political leaders to make sure there is good trade. Germany, a manufacturing powerhouse, is absolutely not pushing to punish Britain. Their industrialists exert a lot of power. What is going on is a shakedown.
6
It will take two (or more) to do that tango, and it's far from sure that the EU will go along with making secession look good at all to other members.
3
If the UK is in the customs union then it cannot have its own trade agreements. Staying in the single market requires freedom of movement. We want to control our immigration. The people voted out of the EU in the referendum, not half in and half out.
Nice try at putting a positive spin on the news. SkyNews noted this morning that the current 21% Tory lead over Labour is the largest gap since 1929 and projected that, if that polling holds, the snap election could widen the Tory majority to 140 seats in Parliament.
6
Brexit is a spectacularly bad idea just was as electing Donald Trump. Hopefully France won't continue this streak of western self-destruction next month.
15
Well the French are doing their best to prevent it. There are 500K voters from the overseas departments of France that might have gotten two ballets instead of one. Who knows if they actually voted twice The government is aware of the issue but has decided not to investigate until AFTER the election. Even though the polls are close the overseas votes tend not to favor Le Pen.
They also have facebook deleting 'fake' account for Le Pen supporters when they accounts aren't fake at all.
They also have facebook deleting 'fake' account for Le Pen supporters when they accounts aren't fake at all.
It's called democracy.And as your are not a U.K tax payer,it's really none of your business.
I was once a devote populist, then along came the seventh grade!
20
It's just so sad. We the people keep electing politicians who promise change but turn out to be loonies. We (the people, I mean) are struggling with the new-found understanding there is no good change and the very-best we can hope for is the likes of HRC and BHO and GB etc... Give us a break and let us grieve the death of hope for a while without saying "I told you so".
For the US and Britain it's been like taking the trouble to get divorced and remarried only to discover that you were better off with your first husband.
For the US and Britain it's been like taking the trouble to get divorced and remarried only to discover that you were better off with your first husband.
3
from England: 'Mayday, Mayday!' But, alas, with Labour in such disarray (running #3 among workers) it looks like the evil days for social democracy (ergo, Democracy) continue internationally. An awful period, this.
4
If anyone coax this malevolent 'me me me' genie that's lately been fiddling around with the foundations of our Western World back into the bottle, it's the UK. Could make the French take their own upcoming election more seriously as well.
3
Just as I lost respect for Blair when he starting sucking up to Bush, I have lost respect for May after her display of eagerness to court Trump. Alas, Jeremy Corbyn does not inspire much confidence and needs to change quite dramatically to be a credible threat.
It looks like this election will be painful (but thankfully, short).
It looks like this election will be painful (but thankfully, short).
30
Watch out! What she expects and what will happen are two separate issues. In fact, I would suspect that she'll lose even more members of parliament to the other side.
11
Smart move, own currency and now Brexit. EU is toast, just a matter of time. Without German banks--would have disappeared nearly a decade ago.
11
Theresa May isn't the British Trump.She is possibly an opportunist but almost every politician is as well.She was on the Remain camp pre-Brexit and is possibly playing to the far-right to compensate for that.She is possibly being judged too harshly because she is a woman.Besides how do you think Brexit headed by Boris Johnson the old Brexit favorite would look like?I suspect much worse simply because he lacks her abilities.
5
The rest of the world is moving forward and this admirable fly-blown speck in the North Sea is moving backwards. Good luck, you will need it
26
Thanks for the sympathy...but "fly blown"! I voted Remain, one of the 48.2% of voters who did.
That would be no. France and the USA are moving in the same direction, thank god.
You've just elected Donald Trump and you imagine that you are 'moving forward' do you?? Who says the Americans don't do irony!!
P.S The U.K is the 5th largest economy in the world,despite yr patronizing comments!!
P.S The U.K is the 5th largest economy in the world,despite yr patronizing comments!!
Prime minister Theresa May might be correct in her calculation that a snap election might cement her Party's majority. But perhaps she shouldn't count her chickens quite yet.
Certainly, the Labour Party has rendered itself unelectable with its persistent designation of Jeremy Corbin as leader. Other voting options exist, however, as far-fetched as their electoral prospects may be..
If the Tories insist on making the forthcoming election into a Brexit referendum, British buyers' remorse might create an oppositional coalition to sink the Tories' ship in the coming weeks.
Certainly, the Labour Party has rendered itself unelectable with its persistent designation of Jeremy Corbin as leader. Other voting options exist, however, as far-fetched as their electoral prospects may be..
If the Tories insist on making the forthcoming election into a Brexit referendum, British buyers' remorse might create an oppositional coalition to sink the Tories' ship in the coming weeks.
32
What other options are there? Remember, they are voting for a member of Parliament not an overall election like a US president.
SNP: Why would an Englishman vote for a Scottish independence party? Although there are a number who would willingly kick the Scots out... Besides, is the SNP running anyone outside of Scotland?
Liberal-Dems: They're still putting themselve back together after being crushed in the last elections. They had made the mistake of all protest parties: they actually governed and had to put money where mouth was. It didn't work Also doesn't help that the leader says he would enter a coalition with the Tories again.
You have the Greens and some other tiny regional parties but that's about it.
If the SNP and Labour joined forces you might have something but the SNP has ruled that out unless they get independence guaranteed.
SNP: Why would an Englishman vote for a Scottish independence party? Although there are a number who would willingly kick the Scots out... Besides, is the SNP running anyone outside of Scotland?
Liberal-Dems: They're still putting themselve back together after being crushed in the last elections. They had made the mistake of all protest parties: they actually governed and had to put money where mouth was. It didn't work Also doesn't help that the leader says he would enter a coalition with the Tories again.
You have the Greens and some other tiny regional parties but that's about it.
If the SNP and Labour joined forces you might have something but the SNP has ruled that out unless they get independence guaranteed.
1
Jeremy Corbyn (spelling) may be unpopular with the leadership, but the rank and file are solidly behind him. The party should be a little less eager to ignore their members.
1
Your spelling is correct.
Yes, the membership is solidly behind him, although the Parliamentary party are not.
The party is not ignoring its members. The electorate is ignoring the party so long as Corbyn is leader.
I was a Labour voter in the last general election. Corbyn's performance, especially on brexit, has been dismal. Following a court decision requiring a vote in Parliament to trigger Article 50, Corbyn ordered his MPs to vote for a simple bill handing Theresa May control over the entire process. This was a chance to have some Parliamentary scrutiny and control over the process and he just handed it back. He is simply NOT a leader.
I really don't know who to vote for now. The only good thing that should come out of this snap election is that Corbyn will have to resign and Labour can try to rebuild.
Yes, the membership is solidly behind him, although the Parliamentary party are not.
The party is not ignoring its members. The electorate is ignoring the party so long as Corbyn is leader.
I was a Labour voter in the last general election. Corbyn's performance, especially on brexit, has been dismal. Following a court decision requiring a vote in Parliament to trigger Article 50, Corbyn ordered his MPs to vote for a simple bill handing Theresa May control over the entire process. This was a chance to have some Parliamentary scrutiny and control over the process and he just handed it back. He is simply NOT a leader.
I really don't know who to vote for now. The only good thing that should come out of this snap election is that Corbyn will have to resign and Labour can try to rebuild.
2
Prediction: 20 years after the British Labour Party won its most crushing general election victory (May 1997), the party will be utterly destroyed in the June 2017 general election. When I think of Labour, I think of Tony Blair. And when I think of Blair, I think of a man who became an even bigger messianic megalomaniac than George W. Bush did after 9/11/2001.
The excellent TV movie The Special Relationship (2010) looked at how Blair interacted with US President Bill Clinton from 1997 to 2000. Don't know how true to life it is, but Clinton (played by Dennis Quaid) was caught off guard by Blair's aggressive foreign policy stance in 1998 and 1999 regarding Kosovo--essentially a prelude to his mania for intervention in Iraq a few years later. Michael Sheen, who might as well be Blair's identical twin brother, did an excellent job of depicting this side of Blair--the side that eventually wrecked Labour's credibility in Britain.
The excellent TV movie The Special Relationship (2010) looked at how Blair interacted with US President Bill Clinton from 1997 to 2000. Don't know how true to life it is, but Clinton (played by Dennis Quaid) was caught off guard by Blair's aggressive foreign policy stance in 1998 and 1999 regarding Kosovo--essentially a prelude to his mania for intervention in Iraq a few years later. Michael Sheen, who might as well be Blair's identical twin brother, did an excellent job of depicting this side of Blair--the side that eventually wrecked Labour's credibility in Britain.
5
It's Jeremy Corbin that has wrecked Labour's credibility in Britain.
Labour wins election when they are perceived as centrist (Tony Blair), not when they are perceived as the lunatic left.
Labour wins election when they are perceived as centrist (Tony Blair), not when they are perceived as the lunatic left.
2
it was a movie. what movie do you know that has been true to fact. and if they could get Oliver Stone to direct it, well, hello conspiracy theorists
"When I think of Labour, I think of Tony Blair."
When I think of Labour, I think of Clement Attlee, Harold Wilson and Jim Callaghan. Blair never struck me as a champion of the working classes.
When I think of Labour, I think of Clement Attlee, Harold Wilson and Jim Callaghan. Blair never struck me as a champion of the working classes.
Brexit is going to ruin May for the next election following the break with the EU. The UK will muddle through the period leading up to its departure. The UK is going to suffer real economic problems that will probably be addressed with tax cuts and austerity. The UK will drift into a diminished economic and political status because the EU had real benefits to the British.
11
So you make a these comments from what perspective? Are you an economist with a crystal ball and magical powers to predict another nations future prosperity? State some examples or hard evidence..
6
S/he doesn't have proffer 'evidence' gardenboy. I voted Remain, never regretted it either.
4
They promised that after the Brexit vote the British economy was going to tank because of the fear of it all. It didn't and won't.
May's Tory Paradise is the return to the horrors of Dickensian England......
14
What does that even mean...?
4
"God bless us every one."
Broken promises, wow, where did SHE learn that??? This could absolutely be a DO- over on the Brexit vote. Could, should, but WON'T. So sad.
4
May is using this election at the peak time for her to remain PM. Labour is in true disarray (think Democrats in the 1980's) The Lib. Democrats have little traction. If anyone believes this is about assuring May can negotiate Brexit from a position of power because she secured the election, they are fools. She is doing this to assure that she and the Tories remain in power. May and the delusional Brexiters will be negotiating from a weak hand, no matter who sits in the PM's chair. It is simply a horrific move for the U.K. in the end.
5
"Certainly, the Conservatives’ election prospects look promising."
And David Cameron thought a remain vote would strengthen his position, too. How did that one work out?
And David Cameron thought a remain vote would strengthen his position, too. How did that one work out?
3
It was David Cameron's reckless party-political manoeuvring that gave us the Brexit referendum in the first place. I frankly don't understand May and her party's motivations for the hard Brexit they are pursuing, it may be simple nationalism (even though May understood the very damaging economic effects that Brexit would cause before the referendum).
11
Here is the bottom line. The people of the UK spoke and demanded Brexit, and now Theresa May finds herself unable to deliver the will of the people. Why? Because a substantial number of (ruling) elites are against the decision made by the people. As one or more UK elite has been quoted saying (in complete seriousness), "nobody wanted this [Brexit] except the voters".
And, therein lies the problem- here, there, and everywhere. Democracy showing it's dirty underwear in public.
We (here, there and everywhere) are the people, our will be done. Else, revolution results.
And, therein lies the problem- here, there, and everywhere. Democracy showing it's dirty underwear in public.
We (here, there and everywhere) are the people, our will be done. Else, revolution results.
15
Some of the people of the UK. 48% voted Remain and don't forget the Registration website "broke down" meaning many did not get to vote.
6
I always find it interesting that the "populists" call everyone that disagrees "elites". I'm one of those elites, but I'd like to know, exactly when did I become an elite? Was it when I was mowing lawns as a kid to buy a power lawn mower to earn a few more bucks? Or when I worked my way through college? Or perhaps when I was in the military for 8 years on the fight deck of an aircraft carrier? Or maybe I became elite when I got out of the military and worked for 30 years? When Rob, did I become this "elite" that your type keeps talking about?
18
This move makes tactical sense.
There is a war of attrition being waged by the 'citizens of the world' establishment and the BBC.establishment .Their hope is that an economic downturn in the UK is overdue and should that occur public sentiment will turn against Brexit.
It also heads off a regrouping whereby Blairite Labour team up with LibDems
to oppose Brexit
A substantial increased majority will seal off these threats for 5 years.
it's very difficult to imagine Corbyn or Farron as leading the country.
There is a war of attrition being waged by the 'citizens of the world' establishment and the BBC.establishment .Their hope is that an economic downturn in the UK is overdue and should that occur public sentiment will turn against Brexit.
It also heads off a regrouping whereby Blairite Labour team up with LibDems
to oppose Brexit
A substantial increased majority will seal off these threats for 5 years.
it's very difficult to imagine Corbyn or Farron as leading the country.
4
"Difficult to imagine" not when it's not going to happen!!!
1
Excuuuuse me... did Ms. May say the country is coming together but Westminster is not??? What parallel universe is she living in that has the country coming together over Brexit? The UK is as fractured as the US is.
Is she turning into a trump disciple?
Is she turning into a trump disciple?
Snap ICM/Guardian poll finds 55% support GE decision and only 15% oppose. More surprising, 67% report they would treat as normal general election, and not second referendum.
https://www.icmunlimited.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/2017_guardian_ca...
https://www.icmunlimited.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/2017_guardian_ca...
Calling for a general election is a necessary step for May if she aspires to have any legitimacy during the tough negotiation ahead. However the timing is bewildering, couldn't the government have called for the snap election before the triggering of Article 50? Did any of the context or the internal tory dynamics change significantly in the last month? From a selfish point of view I understand why calling for the election after the triggering of Article 50 it's a smart move for the government: The tories are expecting to capitalise on the responsibility of the British public and hope that everyone will get behind the government to get on with Brexit. From a broader point of view though, the disruption and uncertainty that the general election introduces in the negotiations for which the time is already ticking is unnerving.
As a foreigner living in the UK I find myself captivated by the tolerance of the British public to this kind of partisan shenanigans. Alas, I think I've had enough, I'll probably be going back to the US or Europe in the Fall. My UK adventure was, well, disappointing...
As a foreigner living in the UK I find myself captivated by the tolerance of the British public to this kind of partisan shenanigans. Alas, I think I've had enough, I'll probably be going back to the US or Europe in the Fall. My UK adventure was, well, disappointing...
39
Not as disappointing as living here when we are too old or disabled to leave.
3
This is going to be a single issue election and the issue is the very close decision in last year's referendum to leave the European Union.
Some 48% of the population was opposed. I want to see polls a week or so from now, which will tell us whether that opposition is affecting party standings. I'm particularly interested in whether the Liberal Democrats, which is at this point the only significant national party opposed to Brexit, gains from its current ~ 11% and, if so, by how much.
Some 48% of the population was opposed. I want to see polls a week or so from now, which will tell us whether that opposition is affecting party standings. I'm particularly interested in whether the Liberal Democrats, which is at this point the only significant national party opposed to Brexit, gains from its current ~ 11% and, if so, by how much.
10
How do you know that "48% of the population was opposed"? I see data indicating that 48% of voters that day were opposed to Brexit, but since the turnout was 72% of registered voters, who represented 65% of the voting age population, I think at best you can say that about 32% of the adult population of voting age were opposed. Or, you could say that 48% of those who bothered to register and to vote were opposed. Which just highlights the absurdity of basing a national decision, for all purposes probably irreversible, on a referendum.
2
Those who opposed the Brexit referendum had only two arguments to make: (a) The economy/GBP will tank, (b) Brits can freely travel to the Continent without visa.
In the ensuing months since Brexit, economy didn't tank, GBP got stronger. And, is that such a big deal to travel without a visa, versus regaining sovereignty, border control, and policy making?
The one remaining question is, how hard a bargain would EU drive, in cutting off the EU market from UK. If May succeeds in securing a soft Brexit, she would have put herself in the same pantheon as Thatcher did back then when Thatcher decided against giving up GBP and keeping EU at arm's length.
In the ensuing months since Brexit, economy didn't tank, GBP got stronger. And, is that such a big deal to travel without a visa, versus regaining sovereignty, border control, and policy making?
The one remaining question is, how hard a bargain would EU drive, in cutting off the EU market from UK. If May succeeds in securing a soft Brexit, she would have put herself in the same pantheon as Thatcher did back then when Thatcher decided against giving up GBP and keeping EU at arm's length.
2
Cameron was supremely confident that the UK would vote to remain in the EU, and look how that turned out! C'mon folks, this is a chance to do the referendum over -- if the 48% who voted to remain are joined by only a small proportion of the "Leavers" who now realize how badly they've been hoodwinked, well... maybe... just sayin'...
Hubris punished once again -- hoisted by her own petard maybe, hopefully...
Hubris punished once again -- hoisted by her own petard maybe, hopefully...
26
The outcome is uncertain. The Liberal Democrats are against Brexit as are the more educated people especially those living in South Britain, London, etc. Even my own relatives are realizing that if Brexit goes through they won't be able to take day trips to France to buy wine and cheese without having to have a valid passport or pay extra taxes and fees. A relative who planned to retire to Spain "because it's cheaper to live there and the weather is warmer" knows that if Brexit becomes a reality his retirement dream is toast!
1
Crotchey old socialists have no place in any society. Nor do their followers.
Corbyn should be glad he's given any platform at all.
Corbyn should be glad he's given any platform at all.
17
The mandate that Mrs. May needs, is to Brexit at any cost. More specifically, pay £60b to EU and exit now, any and all future deals at leisurely pace and entirely at the EU's whim. That's the reluctant conclusion she refers too, something that most by now probably acknowledge as inevitable.
So Mrs. May's dilemma is this: whether to keep the mirage of negotiated deal alive until 2020, engage in useless negotiation with an uninterested EU and equally uninterested Boris i.e. the kick-can option? Or get mandate to get Brexit over with, thus enabling Boris and co. what they more than likely itch for already: ask the EU to take a hike, i.e. the squeeze can option?
Assuming Mrs. May gets the mandate she wishes, it's fairly likely the £60b will get whittled down to 6, and the SNP's desire for referendum pushed back at least 6. Her campaign will call this option Hard Brexit, although they know it's harder than anyone originally imagined.
Nevertheless, should play well with voters. Who, in right mind, could refuse the temptation of asking the perennially-irritating EU, the pesky Scots, and the undeserving House of Lords to all jump, simultaneously with sleight of voter hand, in one giant lake?
Not it would seem, the average voter. Come June, Mrs. May could be looking at a win of historic proportions. And with it, another giant step on way to becoming UK's greatest PM since Churchill. Best wishes.
So Mrs. May's dilemma is this: whether to keep the mirage of negotiated deal alive until 2020, engage in useless negotiation with an uninterested EU and equally uninterested Boris i.e. the kick-can option? Or get mandate to get Brexit over with, thus enabling Boris and co. what they more than likely itch for already: ask the EU to take a hike, i.e. the squeeze can option?
Assuming Mrs. May gets the mandate she wishes, it's fairly likely the £60b will get whittled down to 6, and the SNP's desire for referendum pushed back at least 6. Her campaign will call this option Hard Brexit, although they know it's harder than anyone originally imagined.
Nevertheless, should play well with voters. Who, in right mind, could refuse the temptation of asking the perennially-irritating EU, the pesky Scots, and the undeserving House of Lords to all jump, simultaneously with sleight of voter hand, in one giant lake?
Not it would seem, the average voter. Come June, Mrs. May could be looking at a win of historic proportions. And with it, another giant step on way to becoming UK's greatest PM since Churchill. Best wishes.
10
Well, I guess the question will be : will conservatives be able to repeat their shady election from a year ago, or will the opposition find a way to use the same techniques to get a majority.
This is less a referendum on what the people want, and more on what the parties have learned.
This is less a referendum on what the people want, and more on what the parties have learned.
3
Brexiters in the UK are the the same as the isolationist-wing of the GOP here in the States. Both of these groups live in a delusional world that one can 'go it alone', whether it is the individual person or individual nation-state. In the 21st century, with a global economy, global communications and more critically, global-shared concerns, our isolationists and the U.K.'s Brexit crowd are short-sighed and ultimately wrong about how the world works.
48
While I think that the vote to leave the European Union was a mistake, describing the 52% of the people who voted for precisely that as "the same as the isolationist-wing of the GOP" and "living in a delusional world" suggests a less than sure grasp of British politics.
8
It is naïve to believe that half (or so) of the population who voted for Brexit have a single mindset.
2
Why do so many of your countrymen insist on comparing everything to your own politics.The vote on Brexit wasn't even a party political issue it was about allowing a free vote by the ELECTORATE.
You Americans might be complete and utter slaves the big corporations,but thank god, not everyone thinks like you.
You Americans might be complete and utter slaves the big corporations,but thank god, not everyone thinks like you.
2
Either the Liberal Democrats or Labour needs to come out as the strong anti-Brexit alternative.
May has given the people what they need; an opportunity to reconsider the disastrous Brexit referendum.
She, like Cameron before her, will be surprised by the result. Enjoy your last few months, PM!
May has given the people what they need; an opportunity to reconsider the disastrous Brexit referendum.
She, like Cameron before her, will be surprised by the result. Enjoy your last few months, PM!
28
"Either the Liberal Democrats or Labour needs to come out as the strong anti-Brexit alternative."
The Liberal Democrats came out as strongly anti-Brexit months ago. Labour is pro-Brexit.
The Liberal Democrats came out as strongly anti-Brexit months ago. Labour is pro-Brexit.
1
So what, you are saying the British people are stupid and didn't know what they were doing and that only people such as yourself know what's what...?
If you knew ANTHING about British politics (?) then you would know that there is no "reconsidering" to be done, the split from the EU has been made there is no going back,the electorate have had their say.Unless of course in your world, the British electorate should be forced to overturn the democratic process..?
If you knew ANTHING about British politics (?) then you would know that there is no "reconsidering" to be done, the split from the EU has been made there is no going back,the electorate have had their say.Unless of course in your world, the British electorate should be forced to overturn the democratic process..?
4
Gardenboy, when the British people elect a parliament is that them speaking once and for all, with no elections to bother with in the future? Of course not. In a democracy, there is always 'reconsidering' to be done. If the majority of the British people now want to remain, who are you to deny them their say?
May, by calling for this election, has effectively given the people a chance to change their government. A new government will simply govern in accord with their mandate. Article 50 is no more final and set in stone than anything.
MGV7, you might add that the Conservatives were weakly pro-Brexit as was Labour. Now that the Tories have picked up the pro-Brexit torch and role, the question is whether the opposition with give the voters a vehicle to express their opposition to the main issue of the day - Brexit. Whatever their past position, they'd be wise to.
May, by calling for this election, has effectively given the people a chance to change their government. A new government will simply govern in accord with their mandate. Article 50 is no more final and set in stone than anything.
MGV7, you might add that the Conservatives were weakly pro-Brexit as was Labour. Now that the Tories have picked up the pro-Brexit torch and role, the question is whether the opposition with give the voters a vehicle to express their opposition to the main issue of the day - Brexit. Whatever their past position, they'd be wise to.
This is a calculated, gutsy gamble, I think the lady wins. Maybe with a mandate. A lot depends on what happens in France, I should think. Do they get a crazy person (Le Pen), just like we did across the Atlantic?
There is evidence to suggest that the only real, significant reason for Brexit, Frexit, Nedxit, is immigration-related. The developed world (US, EU, Australia) has decided that immigrants are coming now from undesirable places, carry unwanted baggage, and the gains come at too high a price. Soon, the same argument will lead to protectionist trade policies (we will pay $200 for a clock radio made locally, instead of $20 made in China).
As for the political problems that produce refugees for Europe, and for Britain, I suspect all are okay with leaving that to others to solve, and look away.
Hence Madam May wins. Brexit occurs.
Kalidan
There is evidence to suggest that the only real, significant reason for Brexit, Frexit, Nedxit, is immigration-related. The developed world (US, EU, Australia) has decided that immigrants are coming now from undesirable places, carry unwanted baggage, and the gains come at too high a price. Soon, the same argument will lead to protectionist trade policies (we will pay $200 for a clock radio made locally, instead of $20 made in China).
As for the political problems that produce refugees for Europe, and for Britain, I suspect all are okay with leaving that to others to solve, and look away.
Hence Madam May wins. Brexit occurs.
Kalidan
24
The clock radio you refer to is called an iPod Touch, costs $199, and made in China. -2 points. $19, not $20, and for the cable, also made in China. -1. Otherwise, full marks!
1
$200 clock radio? Who needs clock radio these days? You have your phone, and you have your phone.
Agreed! But in all fairness, the countries that produce all the refugees do so because of home-made problems, which the refugees did nothing - or not enough - to prevent. Now, they are just look for greener pastures.
To solve the problem, the West has to train the refugees to reclaim their countries and install progressive (not necessarily liberal, but rational) governments.
Trouble is, how can the US be a shining beacon for THAT!?!?!?!
To solve the problem, the West has to train the refugees to reclaim their countries and install progressive (not necessarily liberal, but rational) governments.
Trouble is, how can the US be a shining beacon for THAT!?!?!?!
For all the talk in the British press about strengthening the government's hand as it enters negotiations with the EU over Brexit, this election is about the government taking control of the Conservative parliamentary party. With its current majority of about 14, the government is beholden to those 25 hardline Tory MP's who would happily 'slam the door' on the EU. If Mrs May wins well, as she almost certainly will, then those 25 will no longer hold the balance of power and the government will be able to negotiate a sensible Brexit, or in time drive the whole thing into the long grass.
7
May-rdogan?
6
Poor England. the Brexit movement is trying to recreate the England of Queen Elizabeth I. Those days are long gone.The Brits are just like the people in the North-Eastern corner of California which also want to be a separate State. Neither have the financial resources or economy to make it successfully alone. Britain's economy will suffer a great negative shock if it leaves the EU. It is fooling itself to believe that it will receive all the benefits of the EU without the responsibilities of a member.
13
The U.K economy is thriving dear.We have some of the lowest unemployment levels in Europe and a better economic outlook than even France or Italy our nearest rivals!!
Yes, gardenboy, we have a thriving economy - while we are in the EU!
2
"Poor England" (I assume you do not mean the United Kingdom which does of course include Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland) would still have a population of 60 million. It would still be the 2nd largest economy in Europe and the 5th largest in the World, it would still have the largest and best equipped armed forces in Europe, and would still retain a nuclear capability. The economy has just been forecast to grow by 2.3% this year by the IMF, and the collapse of the economy as some predicted has not happened. Now, what was your point again?
1
Maybe in the next few days an unknown woman will awaken and challenge the insipid UK Government and the further gamble (BREXIT) about to unfold in the UK. Maybe a new female voice might say don't be stupid Brits, turn back the clock and remain in the EU forever. Anyone that would kiss the hem of Donald Trump's (May) petticoat is undeserving of station and power.
6
If Theresa May loses the election, is the invitation for Trump's State Visit rescinded? I'm sure the Queen, and the British people would all breathe a sign of relief at not having to meet or see this cretin.
100
Most interesting would be if it goes the other way. Then what? Does Brexit get a second vote?
3
Yeah, that´s what I´m thinking. Maybe they should just have used an opinion poll about leaving the EU and scrapped the vote. It would have been easier and maybe more effective and less costly. What happens if those voters that want to stay in the EU come out in mass? Yogi Berra said, "It's not over till it's over." Who knows, maybe in the end Britain will scrap the pound sterling, join the Euro and mothball the Royal Navy.
1
I sincerely hope the Brits dump May. Under the polished facade, she's Trump in a skirt. The corporate media is doing to Corbyn what the corporate media did to Sanders. The populace of a country can have different ideas about things, but I think most everyone wants peace, justice and equality. Everyone deserves food and shelter, education and healthcare. There is enough money in GB's and the US economy to pay for those things. We've been divided into small pieces, which makes us weak. There is power in wholeness. Dump May, Stay Whole, GB. Please.
72
Jeremy Corbyn is no Bernie Sanders. You have this all wrong. Corbyn does not have the support of left-leaning individuals (like myself) that Bernie had and still has.
1
Your comment gives me hope.
Its clear May caught a case of Trump-itis when she ran over here like an over zealous fool to cater to Trump's empty populism: she has now decided to double down on her own delusions. Brexit will be a disaster on many levels, regardless of what the voters say, goodness it was misinformed voters who got them in this mess in the first place! "Stupid is as stupid does."
54
Murdoch can't live forever; he wants his money's worth of vengeance upon liberal democracy.
5
Keely, you may be American but you've captured the situation in the UK well. Brexit will indeed be a disaster, but most of my compatriots are not sufficiently politically aware to grasp how calamitous the situation will soon be. That's why prime minister May needs to get this general election out of the way before the stark reality sinks in. Theresa May will - in time - be swept away by this Brexit hubris. I only hope the country doesn't disappear along with her.
So tell me this.Why are you Americans so obsessed with comparing EVERYTHING to whats going on in your own back yard? Teresa May is NOTHING like Trump.She's her own person and thankfully our politics are nothing like yours.And what qualifies you to say "Brexit" will be a disaster? You don't even site any facts behind your claim!! And as for insulting the British electorate with the "they didn't know what they were doing," rubbish.. I would trust the intelligence of any Briton over a nation who in a poll were asked who David Cameron was and the most popular reply being "the guy who directed Titanic!"
Is seven weeks enough time for Labour to get its act together? Maybe they should head May and the Tories off at the pass by booting Corbyn and putting in capable leadership. There may well not be enough time to do that and pull off an upset, but one never knows, stranger things have happened.
5
David Milliband, if only you were leading the British Labor Party instead of crabby, old, out of date socialist Corbyn.
He is going to lead his party to an even bigger loss and May will destroy the UK economy with a hard Brexit.
He is going to lead his party to an even bigger loss and May will destroy the UK economy with a hard Brexit.
2
Here's the UK's chance to avoid falling into the abyss. It's unfortunate that Labor has such divisive leadership.
10
"Here's the UK's chance to avoid falling into the abyss. It's unfortunate that Labor has such divisive leadership."
Labour is not only pro-Brexit, its leader imposed a three line whip on his Members of Parliament, which is essentially an insistence that they toe the line, requiring all of them to vote in favour of the instrument that would begin the divorce.
Labour is not only pro-Brexit, its leader imposed a three line whip on his Members of Parliament, which is essentially an insistence that they toe the line, requiring all of them to vote in favour of the instrument that would begin the divorce.
Or that British people remember that the Blair/Brown years saddled the British people with the biggest debt in it's history!!
1
Since when does Corbyn belong to the 'hard left'? He's a social democrat, not a Trotskyist.
41
Money talks. Too many politicians have no party loyalty now. Money has gotten to them. We must also remember, the last 40+ years - since Regan -Thatcher the world has taken a hard right turn.
Time to get things around the world back to the center.
Time to get things around the world back to the center.
2
Unfortunately in the US the power brokers who are able to buy elections have managed to convince the lumpen proletariat that social democracy is Trotskyism. Working people have been swallowing this bilge and voting against their own interests for decades.
3
Since when were the Lib Dems a centrist part?
1
Since Tories flipped for UKIP.
3
My prediction - Labour will be decimated but the Respect movement will ensure that hard-left domination of England's once-most-popular-party continues in the wake of what surely is going to be an epic electoral thrashing. Lib Dems will reap a whirlwind of seats thanks to Labour's collapse and the Tories will slide back into government with a massive number of new MPs. The SNP will maintain or slightly grow their advantage, but so will the Scottish Conservative Party, to the shock of everyone. May will be strengthened politically as she moves forward with Brexit.
4
United Kingdom? It's anything but united. There's London, the rest of England, Scotland, and Wales-- not to mention Northern Ireland-- each region with different visions of itself and Europe. Good luck you guys. You might end up with an election whose results only create greater division and uncertainty. At least we will all know the results within a few weeks.
3
Can we Americans have a snap election too in June? Please?
179
After denying the Scot's a vote on independence as being too much of a distraction and after repeatedly stating that a snap election was not in the cards, PM May has the temerity to ask for a snap? Hopefully the British voters will make her suffer!
59
The English voters certainly won't make her suffer.
3
This will be the moment when the Brexit genie is put back into the bottle where it came from!
2
One hopes, but May is a politician, she isn't doing this to lose power but to gain power. She suspects disarray on the left and lack of organized position from the pro-EU in the Tories as well creating a gap for her to cement her position as a pro-Brexit Tory. The Tories, because of their ties to BigMoney are not by definition, pro-Brexit, so this will be a sorting out and will cement her leadership in this endeavor or it will eject her.
If there was better opposition to May, this would be good news. But there isn't. So it's probably bad news. This is quite possibly an existential election for the U.K. because Scotland might do its own exit from the UK if it leaves. Great Britain will no longer be a political entity. Little Britain will be a kind of Netherlands x 3. For the British, voting against May is a patriotic act.
If there was better opposition to May, this would be good news. But there isn't. So it's probably bad news. This is quite possibly an existential election for the U.K. because Scotland might do its own exit from the UK if it leaves. Great Britain will no longer be a political entity. Little Britain will be a kind of Netherlands x 3. For the British, voting against May is a patriotic act.
7
No matter which way the vote goes, it should (hopefully) bring clarity to how the Brits feel. As it is now, the Brexit vote in favor looks like the votes " in favor" in the US for Trump or in Turkey for Erdogan.
May would not have called this election if the Labor Party wasn't led by such a feckless man.
1
I sure hope it has the opposite of what Ms. May expects -- she is as much a monster as Mr. Trump when it comes to representing the "people" -- it's her or his way or the "highway". Really hoping the French make a sensible decision in their upcoming elections. What a disgrace these people are.
15
For a country mired in as big an economic quagmire as England, yet another national election seems an extraordinary waste of taxpayer money just for Mrs. May's desire for total control. Apparently she does not handle dissent well.
It may seem off topic but for the upcoming French national elections, France is no longer allowing any electronic voting. All citizens will have to vote in person as France is extremely (and correctly, as we Americans know) concerned about Russian interference. Will May's government take the same precaution?
I wonder how much these elections cost the British with a national budget struggling with demands on schools, NHS, pensions, costs and living standards.
Hopefully the British will be smart enough to send Mrs. May a message that she should look at the US for a living example of how truly horrible and disastrous a government is when it is run only by conservatives.
It may seem off topic but for the upcoming French national elections, France is no longer allowing any electronic voting. All citizens will have to vote in person as France is extremely (and correctly, as we Americans know) concerned about Russian interference. Will May's government take the same precaution?
I wonder how much these elections cost the British with a national budget struggling with demands on schools, NHS, pensions, costs and living standards.
Hopefully the British will be smart enough to send Mrs. May a message that she should look at the US for a living example of how truly horrible and disastrous a government is when it is run only by conservatives.
26
"Smart" and "British" doesn't mix, after all this is the country that suffered under the Tory's austerity measures, and as a protest decided to leave the largest single market on earth while voting the same party back in again just a year before the EU vote.
Yes, it is really as stupid as it sounds. You couldn't make it up.
Yes, it is really as stupid as it sounds. You couldn't make it up.
6
You write: "For a country mired in as big an economic quagmire as England..." Have you seen the latest data on the European economies? The UK economy is performing better than virtually every other large economy on the Continent.
2
Britain would have had austerity if the last two Labour administrations hadn't landed this country with the biggest debt in it's history!!
As the curtain is slowly pulled back on the faulty machinery of the global wave of populism, May decides to strike before the iron goes completely cold.
7
We we will learn if Brexit supporters are having second thoughts or are having their own trump moment.
17
A cynic would say that Ms. May, who opposed Brexit, is looking to seek an honorable retreat from the anti-EU vote that cost Cameron his job.
Normally Tory voters will have to vote Labor to stop Brexit. This comes at a time when that is extremely hard because its leadership is currently ideologically on the hard left and Tories by definition are against that.
I doubt that. One is better to presume that politicians are craven. She has positioned herself as pro-Brexit. But many if not most Tories because of ties to BigMoney are pro-EU. That means in the coming election, opposition to Brexit has to be organized around Labor. Currently Labor has poor, divisive leadership - and hard left, which normally is okay, but something that the Pro-EU Tories would have a hard time voting for. in an effort to preserve the EU and the UK. In my mind voting for May means voting for the disunion of the UK as well as the EU. This is collapse of the Roman Empire kind of stuff, of which they left Britain 60 or so years before the Empire collapsed outright.
This is the time Scotland should make this poll a mandate for independence and rid herself of the dead hand of Westminster once and for all and to break the Treaty of Union with England thus, in early course, bringing to an end to the disUnited KIngdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. This is also England's opportunity of becoming an independent country to follow whatever xenophobic menial place it clamours and deserves in the world, an ineffectual land striven by hate, with no influence, no permanent seat at the UN Security council, a threadbare navy, in early course, no nuclear weapons as independent Scotland will kick them out of her territory, insufficient power generation or water supplies, its people living in huts as there is insufficient housing, crippled by debt and its one and only cash generation ability, the south east of England/London money laundering barely regulated scam swiftly disappearing elsewhere in Europe.
86
Scotland run the worlds largest spending deficit, at 9.5%, paid for by the English taxpayer, and would be utterly and completely bankrupt the first day of independence.
Scotland's relationship to England is essentially parasitic.
Scotland's relationship to England is essentially parasitic.
2
An interesting opinion considering that the average Scot today is subsidized to the tune of over £1,000 per year by the average Brit.
2
I understand your sentiments. But it's sad to read them, and the other replies to your post. They speak to the obvious divisions within the regions, and the country at large. Surely it's as unhelpful to characterise 'the English' en masse, as it is to regard 'the Scots' as ingrates or free-loaders.
Better to call it a failure of political leadership, than an existential rift between the people.
Better to call it a failure of political leadership, than an existential rift between the people.
Brexit was great for Britain as it will give them sovereignty and the freedom to chose the direction of their country through elections. The predicted economic malaise was fostered from the special interests who know they'll get whatever they want from non'elected officials in Brussels. Money is the mover of all things and European manufacturers are not about to lose a market like Great Britain. So the threat of economic isolation was only an attempt to make Britain keep sending more money into the EU than it takes out. When that won't work the European manufacturers will still want to keep the British market and the workers in those manufacturing jobs will not want to lose their employment. In the end, it will go smoother than the threats. It is a win win for the British people and a setback to the global billionaires who are trying to extract even more money from workers on a global scale. Massive immigration results in lower wages and international mergers results in monopoly positions for product with the citizens having nowhere to go except to corporate appointed panels of lawyers. Good for Britain and hopefully France.
15
I wonder John are you really from New York? Your argument sounds suspiciously like something spouted by UKIP in "Old" York!
7
Agreed.
Let's all keep in mind how wrong the experts have been in recent years. All of their childish predictions of disaster for the UK will probably fizzle and, in the end, everything will be alright.
Considering what the EU did, and is still doing, to the people of Greece it seems like a good idea to get well away. And now seems like a good time to do it.
Let's all keep in mind how wrong the experts have been in recent years. All of their childish predictions of disaster for the UK will probably fizzle and, in the end, everything will be alright.
Considering what the EU did, and is still doing, to the people of Greece it seems like a good idea to get well away. And now seems like a good time to do it.
3
Of course I'm from the States and I was against TPP for the very same reasons. The majority of Americans were also against it.
3
The International Mafia - aka The Top 1% Global Financial Elite Robber Baron/ Radical Religion Good Old Boys' Party/ Corporate Cabal have a plan.
My money says Ms. May will be replaced with a strong-arm man OR she is already one of them - like Margaret Thatcher.
Either way, they want to replace ALL democratic governments and usher in "Predatory Capitalist Earth". They will be happy to start WW3 to get what they want.
IF WE LET THEM. FIGHT! FIGHT! FIGHT!
My money says Ms. May will be replaced with a strong-arm man OR she is already one of them - like Margaret Thatcher.
Either way, they want to replace ALL democratic governments and usher in "Predatory Capitalist Earth". They will be happy to start WW3 to get what they want.
IF WE LET THEM. FIGHT! FIGHT! FIGHT!
6
Seven weeks! No idea who'll win this, but after the bruising, depressing, seemingly endless campaign we just went through, the idea that a leading western democracy can accomplish a General Election in just seven weeks fills me with envy. Trump's announcement with his "Mexican rapists" speech occurred seventeen MONTHS before our election day.
No Brit who stands will be anywhere near as unqualified and divisive as our current president, but no matter how dreadful their worst candidate is, at least Britain knows it will only have to put up with his or her campaign lies for seven weeks.
No Brit who stands will be anywhere near as unqualified and divisive as our current president, but no matter how dreadful their worst candidate is, at least Britain knows it will only have to put up with his or her campaign lies for seven weeks.
144
I'm not sure if your assessment is correct. As bad as Trump is, his election does not mean the dismemberment of our Union. Voting for May is an existential vote for the dismemberment of the UK as we know it. There is nothing more irresponsible that a patriot could do than voting for the destruction of their own country. Voting for May is exactly that. May calls the election in hopes that the organization against her is too fractured and poorly organized to succeed. In this case, the UK might be better served by a longer election season because the issues is enormous, it's existential.
5
Currently its the tories to lose. All the other parties are wrecks trying to put themselves together.
" it shows that Theresa May is once again putting the interests of her party ahead of those of the country" said Nicola Sturgeon without a hint of hypocrisy.
14
The First Minister of Scotland, Nicola Sturgeon, does nothing else but put the interests of Scotland first, whereas, the unelected head of the English Tory party puts party before all else, except, of course, its rich friends in London who are barely regulated and pay next to no tax.
Hypocrisy? Yup, correct. May and her troupe care nought for country (which is England not the UK) but only for political power in a much diminished land.
Hypocrisy? Yup, correct. May and her troupe care nought for country (which is England not the UK) but only for political power in a much diminished land.
8
Don't worry the next Scottish referendum will be by the rest of the UK to rid itself of the 'poor old maligned' Scots.So they all pretend to be happily Scandinavian,or whatever charade they've created for themselves!!
A chance for England to fix itself. Will it take the opportunity?
If we could only have a "vote of confidence" system here. A lot less people would suffer and die.
If we could only have a "vote of confidence" system here. A lot less people would suffer and die.
6
England? Do you mean the United KIngdom? If so, get it right.
Mind you, you may be nearer the truth than you know. The British Union is heading for the rocks and irrespective of the outcome of this pointless election, England is heading in one direction and into festering darkness on its own.
Meanwhile, Scotland will take its own path to sing a different tune.
Mind you, you may be nearer the truth than you know. The British Union is heading for the rocks and irrespective of the outcome of this pointless election, England is heading in one direction and into festering darkness on its own.
Meanwhile, Scotland will take its own path to sing a different tune.
14
England? er it's a bit more than that.
I mean England.
Disagree strongly with many of those here in the NYT peanut gallery saying this is a good thing.
The U.K. working class seems hell bent on the type of crazed Nationalism that the USA is experiencing ended King Trump.
It doesn't bode well for the stability of the world. May seems to want to gamble on a dangerous bet to consolidate power.
Remember: The house always wins. That's not us.
The U.K. working class seems hell bent on the type of crazed Nationalism that the USA is experiencing ended King Trump.
It doesn't bode well for the stability of the world. May seems to want to gamble on a dangerous bet to consolidate power.
Remember: The house always wins. That's not us.
52
Reactionary right movements are a reaction to the concentration of wealth economics - something that began with Reagan and Thatcher and have not abated.
Concentration of wealth ultimately leads to artificial austerity (notice I said artificial, most people feel poorer but that's because the rich have gotten all the chips).
When the number of musical chairs are contracting, the majority will instinctively coalesce to make sure that they aren't going to be the ones that go without chairs when the music stops.
The dissolution of the Great Western alliance after WWII is the result of Reagan becoming President and then how he reacted to the PATCO strike. Big things have small beginnings.
This happened at the time of the fall of the Roman Empire, when wealth was so concentrated that 6 senators owned half of North Africa (See Nobel Laureate Douglas North's "Structure and Change in Economic History" pages 100-115) and the wealthy used their influence to avoid paying taxes leaving the Empire with too small of an army to protect its borders - despite it controling all of the resources of Western Civilization when that included the better part of Europe, North Africa, Egypt, Anatolia and the Levant, and the barbarains were landless, shiftless, impoverished illiterates.
What we learn from history is that we don't learn from history.
Concentration of wealth ultimately leads to artificial austerity (notice I said artificial, most people feel poorer but that's because the rich have gotten all the chips).
When the number of musical chairs are contracting, the majority will instinctively coalesce to make sure that they aren't going to be the ones that go without chairs when the music stops.
The dissolution of the Great Western alliance after WWII is the result of Reagan becoming President and then how he reacted to the PATCO strike. Big things have small beginnings.
This happened at the time of the fall of the Roman Empire, when wealth was so concentrated that 6 senators owned half of North Africa (See Nobel Laureate Douglas North's "Structure and Change in Economic History" pages 100-115) and the wealthy used their influence to avoid paying taxes leaving the Empire with too small of an army to protect its borders - despite it controling all of the resources of Western Civilization when that included the better part of Europe, North Africa, Egypt, Anatolia and the Levant, and the barbarains were landless, shiftless, impoverished illiterates.
What we learn from history is that we don't learn from history.
6
Big gamble. I admire guts but this may be a disaster.
After the elections England will find itself in a bigger mess/crises.
3
what about Britain?
These constant election battles are getting depressing. If life weren't hard enough as it was, this constant fight over who's more right often seems to make it downright intolerable. As far as I'm concerned, any group that feels is has to prove it's right with some artificial pretense like an election, isn't.
3
Labor would be smart to remind Brits that Mr. Trump supports Brexit. The pendulum has begun to swing back. May,s hubris is in full view
49
Labour supports Brexit. The only parties that don't are the Liberal Democrats (national) and the Scottish National Party (regional).
2
No choice for Theresa May's executive, really.
Tories are polling at their highest (15% or more) than Labour, they are very weak in Scotland as pro-EU SNP are winning seats in the council elections 4th May, tories are also weak against pro-EU Sin Fein in NI. The far-right Ukip which was a party Tories are trying to block from entering UK parliament are also at their weakest having only recently lost their only MP.
Theresa May's government is an unelected Tory executive with no mandate to impose on the UK a hard brexit (exit from the EU single market & customs union).
So, a General Election is the next best democratic option this government had in order to legitimise a hard brexit and their own vision of a future UK economy. That vision entails a European version of Cayman Islands version of an offshore tax haven with a minimal welfare state which would be best positioned to most effectively compete against EU trade.
Too bad the Trump presidency, which was at least partly funded by the same donors as brexit (Mercers, Mnuchin, etc., including some extremely hard-right donors representing the US tech/industrial complex), is not working quite as well as expected.
Timing for the UK GE election is also optimal against the French election attempting to agit-prop anti-EU sentiment in the continent. So, centre-leaning and left-leaning parties will be aiming to win as many seats as possible to provide an effective opposition to UK Tories, quite possibly as an allied force.
Tories are polling at their highest (15% or more) than Labour, they are very weak in Scotland as pro-EU SNP are winning seats in the council elections 4th May, tories are also weak against pro-EU Sin Fein in NI. The far-right Ukip which was a party Tories are trying to block from entering UK parliament are also at their weakest having only recently lost their only MP.
Theresa May's government is an unelected Tory executive with no mandate to impose on the UK a hard brexit (exit from the EU single market & customs union).
So, a General Election is the next best democratic option this government had in order to legitimise a hard brexit and their own vision of a future UK economy. That vision entails a European version of Cayman Islands version of an offshore tax haven with a minimal welfare state which would be best positioned to most effectively compete against EU trade.
Too bad the Trump presidency, which was at least partly funded by the same donors as brexit (Mercers, Mnuchin, etc., including some extremely hard-right donors representing the US tech/industrial complex), is not working quite as well as expected.
Timing for the UK GE election is also optimal against the French election attempting to agit-prop anti-EU sentiment in the continent. So, centre-leaning and left-leaning parties will be aiming to win as many seats as possible to provide an effective opposition to UK Tories, quite possibly as an allied force.
3
In hindsight, this was an invevitable decision, given the unpalatable choices on the Prime Minister's plate otherwise. She is a far less dynamic and natural presence on the platform than David Cameron, though. Can she effectively lead and win a national campaign? The other parties have questions too, of course. Can Jeremy Corbyn escape the label of far-left crackpot? Can the Liberal Democrats deal themselves back into the game under their interesting new leader Tim Farron? Has the SNP peaked on their single-note trajectory under Nicola Sturgeon? And, how much interest will the UK voters take in this election, anyway?
2
"Gamble" is an understatement.
2
Twilight zone part three.
1
May is afraid that with the present slim majority she has, Parliament might reject the results of her negotiations, especially if they bring about a sharp divorce from the Union. A rejection would clearly bring about her downfall and a solid win is the way she hopes to avoid that disaster. She is banking on the present unpopularity and internal conflicts within Labor to see her through. The campaign and its aftermath remove some three months from the already tight negotiation schedule. Britons are guaranteed a jolly old time for the next four/five years, and what the uncertainties will do to its economy is what worries people.
14
"slim majority"
Extremely slim with Tories having 330 seats to Labour's 229, over ONE HUNDRED more!
(SNP has 54 & Liberal Dems effectively deceased at 9 seats.)
Extremely slim with Tories having 330 seats to Labour's 229, over ONE HUNDRED more!
(SNP has 54 & Liberal Dems effectively deceased at 9 seats.)
2
@iloydmi. The working majority for May is exactly 17. Otherwise there would be no need for an election which she had rejected time and again.
2
May is counting on Corbyn's unpopularity and on Tories not abandoning their party in favor on no Brexit. It may backfire, just like Brexit backfired on Cameron. What is certain is that the Tories will get a shellacking in Scotland making a coupling between Brexit and Scottexit stronger.
90
They Tories have like 1 person in all of Scotland and he won by 700 votes. I don't they're expect him to win. Besides, Scotland was always the Labour stronghold rather then the Tories.
Brexit hurt Labour badly. Its calculated that possible half of the normal Labour vote was in favor of Brexit. It got worse when Labour cozyed up to their new friends in London and forgot about all the working class district.
Brexit hurt Labour badly. Its calculated that possible half of the normal Labour vote was in favor of Brexit. It got worse when Labour cozyed up to their new friends in London and forgot about all the working class district.
Ermm. Not necessarily so. Remember that the majority of Scots voted to remain in the UK, (and Mrs. May is playing the unity card) and the majority of Scottish fishermen and oil workers voted to EXIT the EU. So by calling the election Mrs. May now encourages both the pro-UK vote in Scotland AND the anti-EU vote. The SNP could now actually lose seats in Westminster. See politics is much more complicated then you think.
Remember Brexit came about when PM Cameron betted it wouldn't happen. So it might be funnier if PM May wanted to gamble for a stronger hand and lost it
74
This should be an easy landslide for Labour as long as Jeremy Corbyn pounds away at issues most urgent to the British people, namely fraternal support for socialist 'experiment' in Venezuela & expanding the rights for the Palestinian state.
31
Venezuela and the West Bank are failed states. Are you suggesting Labour wants Britain to join them in a "fraternal socialist experiment"?
No, Labour will get hammered at the polls. It'll be a bloodbath. The right-wing media and the Labour Party itself has spent too long painting Corbyn out to be unelectable, it's stuck to him like glue. The overwhelming narrative is that Labour are a shambles and not worth voting for, and it has to be said there is some justification for that too. Corbyn has failed to do a good job of convincing people of his policies, and has hamstrung himself with some very questionable decisions and soundbites.
Calling an early election was a simple and obvious move for Theresa May, which probably explains why it took her so long to do it. She's one of the least convincing leaders I can remember, vacillating and hollow. And she's just bought herself 5 more years to carve apart the NHS and the rest of the welfare state.
Calling an early election was a simple and obvious move for Theresa May, which probably explains why it took her so long to do it. She's one of the least convincing leaders I can remember, vacillating and hollow. And she's just bought herself 5 more years to carve apart the NHS and the rest of the welfare state.
1
He's joking, and playing on certain of Mr. Corbyn's less popular positions.
6
Fear not USA, Theresa May is merely trying to consolidate her position whilst wiping out Labour at a stroke. Who is Nicola Sturgeon? Nothing to do with UK parliament! LibDems led by Tim Farron (work out the anagram) will do well, but I suspect that of UKIP only select candidates in Labour seats where Leave EU was a big vote then we could see a double digit of MPs for them (LibDems have 9) - and an even harder line being taken by UK in negotiations with Eurocrats
4
If only we could call for another election here.
275
A rich country like us can never waste too much money on such things. For that matter, we can have one every week or month so everyone can at least feel like they're happy for a moment, while eventually resigning themselves to the overall hopelessness of the process in the end.
1
Well, even if we had similar laws, it would be Trump and the Republicans who would have the option to call it. So there is no cop-out from the consequences of bad choices.
Amen
The MC complex at first said that a second election need be held as the first one didnt get the results they wanted. When they failed in that vile attempt,
then they managed to get a court ruling that the results of referendum has got to be approved by the parliament.
Then when the parliament approved the results and the process of Brexit started in earnest then they persuaded Theresa to go for another election .
Whats is it for except for nullifying the votes parliament polled in favor of Brexit ?
It is now certain that Brexit would be defeated and the bankers, corporations and the elitists,the so-called 1% will have their insidious way over us the 99%. THE will of the majority is respected and accepted only if it tallies with that of the predatory super greedy 1% . Isnt this yet another clear sign that its not democracy in Britain or Europe anymore .Its all clearcut Corporatocracy ,
This is unjust, unfair and tilting the playing field to get what the 1% wants by murdering democracy ..