- Sep 26, 2011
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The UK Parliament today is going to vote to hold a General Election on the 8th of June this year.
Why is this happening?
On the 23rd of June 2016, the UK voted to leave the European Union in a non-binding referendum. There were many reason behind why people voted the way they did, but the reason the vote happened at all is because the governing Conservative Party's internal divisions on being in the EU.
The Eurosceptic wing threatening revolt if, then Prime Minister, David Cameron didn't place a referendum on membership in the 2015 election Conservative manifesto(basically a party platform).
I'm not going to go down the endless rabbit hole of the consequences of the Brexit vote, but to put it simply, who ever is in power during, and immediately after Brexit will have the power to completely reshape the UK(literally if Scotland votes to leave the UK to rejoin the EU).
The Prime Minister and their party would be able to keep, modify or throw out any piece of legislation that is remotely related to the EU.
Well at least, it would be that simple if it weren't for the fact that most of these changes would have to be voted on in parliament. While the Conservatives have a majority, it isn't a strong one, and Theresa May, our current Prime Minister, wants a parliament that can rubber stamp what ever legislation she wants.
On top of this, May has pledged that parliament will get a "meaningful vote" on the final Brexit deal with the EU near the end of the two year negotiating period(Though there could be an extension). May will want this deal to pass with minimal effort/scrutiny.
But you just there's still two(-ish) years before the UK actually leaves the EU. Why have the election now?
Jeremy Corbyn.
Current Labour Party leader and leader of Her Majesty's Opposition(the leader of the largest non-governing party).
After months of being backstabed by his own party, and vilified by the media, it's safe to say Labour has never had a less popular leader.(Though his policies are usually well received)
In turn, the Labour Party's support is similar to when Margret Thatcher won a landslide victory all those yonks ago. AKA historic lows.
Media sources suggested that Corbyn might of resigned if the local elections this May(the month) went badly. May(the person, sorry), want's a landslide and five years to do what ever she wants before dealing with another election.
So obviously the election must happen before Corbyn can resign. It's already too late for Labour to force him out and elect a new one through traditional means(they could pass emergency stuff to do it, but they almost certainly wont)
So this General Election is going to be all about Brexit right?
Yes and no.
No one's really sure how the parties will choose to campaign.
The Liberal Democrats will make it about Brexit.
Labour, probably not so much.
The Conservatives will definitely promote how great they've been and how awful everyone else is. They might claim they're the only party that can be trusted to deliver Brexit.
What do UK voters think this election should be about? Not Brexit according to a Yougov poll.
But then, voters are sick of Brexit...and politics in general:
Jon Kay on Twitter
(A very short relevant video on twitter)
"Liberal Democrats"? Who the heck are they?!
They're one of the many political parties in the UK, which I will get into in my next post.
Why is this happening?
On the 23rd of June 2016, the UK voted to leave the European Union in a non-binding referendum. There were many reason behind why people voted the way they did, but the reason the vote happened at all is because the governing Conservative Party's internal divisions on being in the EU.
The Eurosceptic wing threatening revolt if, then Prime Minister, David Cameron didn't place a referendum on membership in the 2015 election Conservative manifesto(basically a party platform).
I'm not going to go down the endless rabbit hole of the consequences of the Brexit vote, but to put it simply, who ever is in power during, and immediately after Brexit will have the power to completely reshape the UK(literally if Scotland votes to leave the UK to rejoin the EU).
The Prime Minister and their party would be able to keep, modify or throw out any piece of legislation that is remotely related to the EU.
Well at least, it would be that simple if it weren't for the fact that most of these changes would have to be voted on in parliament. While the Conservatives have a majority, it isn't a strong one, and Theresa May, our current Prime Minister, wants a parliament that can rubber stamp what ever legislation she wants.
On top of this, May has pledged that parliament will get a "meaningful vote" on the final Brexit deal with the EU near the end of the two year negotiating period(Though there could be an extension). May will want this deal to pass with minimal effort/scrutiny.
But you just there's still two(-ish) years before the UK actually leaves the EU. Why have the election now?
Jeremy Corbyn.
Current Labour Party leader and leader of Her Majesty's Opposition(the leader of the largest non-governing party).
After months of being backstabed by his own party, and vilified by the media, it's safe to say Labour has never had a less popular leader.(Though his policies are usually well received)
In turn, the Labour Party's support is similar to when Margret Thatcher won a landslide victory all those yonks ago. AKA historic lows.
Media sources suggested that Corbyn might of resigned if the local elections this May(the month) went badly. May(the person, sorry), want's a landslide and five years to do what ever she wants before dealing with another election.
So obviously the election must happen before Corbyn can resign. It's already too late for Labour to force him out and elect a new one through traditional means(they could pass emergency stuff to do it, but they almost certainly wont)
So this General Election is going to be all about Brexit right?
Yes and no.
No one's really sure how the parties will choose to campaign.
The Liberal Democrats will make it about Brexit.
Labour, probably not so much.
The Conservatives will definitely promote how great they've been and how awful everyone else is. They might claim they're the only party that can be trusted to deliver Brexit.
What do UK voters think this election should be about? Not Brexit according to a Yougov poll.
But then, voters are sick of Brexit...and politics in general:
Jon Kay on Twitter
(A very short relevant video on twitter)
"Liberal Democrats"? Who the heck are they?!
They're one of the many political parties in the UK, which I will get into in my next post.
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