UK’s midterm poll on June 8 is historic in more ways than one.
It will decide the fate of Prime Minister Theresa May’s great gamble to seek her own majority instead of what she inherited from predecessor David Cameron, as well as decide the shape of the impending Brexit negotiations.
It also marks the death knell of a historic Act passed only 6 years ago, giving the House of Commons a fixed five-year term and a fixed date for its election (May 5, every five years).
As per the Act, the next election should have been held only on May 5, 2020.
But on April 18, 2017 Theresa May announced her decision to dissolve the House and seek a fresh mandate.
Although the Fixed-Term Parliament Act remains on the statute books, it was over-ridden on this occasion by an overwhelming majority; unsurprisingly, neither Opposition party wanted to lose the opportunity to fight an election to unseat the government.
In effect, the PM of the day can now call an early election at will (like before), which makes a mockery of the Act.
Party Position in the outgoing Parliament
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