2017 United Kingdom general election: Difference between revisions
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Unusually, local elections took place in much of the country in the middle of the election campaign, giving an alternative predictor to opinion polls. They agreed on bad results for Labour, which are mainly attributed to its far left leader [[Jeremy Corbyn]]. The other major feature of the local elections was the collapse in the votes for [[UKIP]], which lost all the seats it was defending and gained just a single seat (though it still has local councillors who were not up for reelection this year) ([http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-39815444]). This is assumed to be largely because it has achieved its main objective, departure from the [[European Union]], and is expected to benefit mainly the Conservatives. | Unusually, local elections took place in much of the country in the middle of the election campaign, giving an alternative predictor to opinion polls. They agreed on bad results for Labour, which are mainly attributed to its far left leader [[Jeremy Corbyn]]. The other major feature of the local elections was the collapse in the votes for [[UKIP]], which lost all the seats it was defending and gained just a single seat (though it still has local councillors who were not up for reelection this year) ([http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-39815444]). This is assumed to be largely because it has achieved its main objective, departure from the [[European Union]], and is expected to benefit mainly the Conservatives. | ||
By the deadline on 11 May, | By the deadline on 11 May, about 3300 valid nominations had been received for the 650 seats, from about 73 parties and 187 independents ([https://candidates.democracyclub.org.uk/numbers/election/parl.2017-06-08/parties]). Five parties have candidates in a majority of seats: Conservative, Labour, Liberal Democrat, Green<ref>Strictly, the Green Party of England and Wales, those for Scotland and Northern Ireland being independent.</ref> and UKIP. ([http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/0/uk-election-parties-candidates-standing-2017/]) | ||
Campaigning was suspended for a few days after a deadly terrorist attack in Manchester. | Campaigning was suspended for a few days after a deadly terrorist attack in Manchester. | ||
Revision as of 04:04, 1 June 2017
A general election to select Members of Parliament in the House of Commons of the United Kingdom is scheduled to take place on 8th June 2017. MPs voted in favour of a motion by the Prime Minister, Theresa May, by 522 to 13 to call an election,[1] in accordance with the requirement of the Fixed-Term Parliaments Act 2011 for a vote by MPs representing two-thirds of constituencies. Parliament was dissolved on 3rd May 2017 by royal proclamation, which also formally called the election, with 650 seats to be filled.
Less than two years after the previous nationwide poll, May made a surprise announcement on 18th April to seek an election, having previously stated that this would not be in the interests of the nation in the run up to British exit from the European Union.[2] The election has resulted in the cancellation of a by-election - the first time this has happened since 1924.
Projected results based on early opinion polls regularly gave large Conservative majorities. At least one predicted Labour's worst result since 1935, and some predict more Conservative MPs than in any election since 1931.
Unusually, local elections took place in much of the country in the middle of the election campaign, giving an alternative predictor to opinion polls. They agreed on bad results for Labour, which are mainly attributed to its far left leader Jeremy Corbyn. The other major feature of the local elections was the collapse in the votes for UKIP, which lost all the seats it was defending and gained just a single seat (though it still has local councillors who were not up for reelection this year) ([1]). This is assumed to be largely because it has achieved its main objective, departure from the European Union, and is expected to benefit mainly the Conservatives.
By the deadline on 11 May, about 3300 valid nominations had been received for the 650 seats, from about 73 parties and 187 independents ([2]). Five parties have candidates in a majority of seats: Conservative, Labour, Liberal Democrat, Green[3] and UKIP. ([3])
Campaigning was suspended for a few days after a deadly terrorist attack in Manchester.
Later in the campaign, opinion polls moved substantially Labour's way. By the end of May, one predicted no overall majority in the new House of Commons.
Footnotes
- ↑ BBC News: 'General election 2017: MPs back plans for 8 June poll'. 19th April 2017.
- ↑ Independent: 'Theresa May rules out snap election as Tories warn waiting until 2020 could ‘open the door to Labour’'. 1st October 2016.
- ↑ Strictly, the Green Party of England and Wales, those for Scotland and Northern Ireland being independent.