MPs expected to back PM’s call for a snap poll on Wednesday
6 minutes ago by: George Parker, Political Editor
UK prime minister Theresa May has insisted that a Conservative victory in a snap election would “strengthen our position in negotiations with the EU”, as she seeks more room for manoeuvre over Brexit.
Mrs May is expected to win a vote in the House of Commons on Wednesday afternoon, allowing her to press ahead with an early general election on June 8.
Labour and Liberal Democrat MPs are likely to back the motion to override the Fixed-term Parliaments Act, which had set May 7 2020 as the date of the next election. The Scottish National party has said it will abstain from the vote.
Only last month Mrs May had ruled out an early election, saying it would be “self-serving” and would create uncertainty.
But the prime minister said on Wednesday morning she had changed her mind and called an early poll on Tuesday after looking at the Brexit timetable and the risk that final negotiations would become dangerously entangled with a proposed election in May 2020.
“I believe this will strengthen our hand,” Mrs May told the BBC’s Today programme, arguing that by postponing a second election until 2022 she would have a strong mandate throughout the Brexit process.
The move will give her more leeway to accept a transition period — possibly involving the acceptance of free movement and EU laws — between the formal Brexit date of 2019 and the conclusion of a free-trade deal.
However, Mrs May dismissed suggestions she would set out more details of her Brexit negotiating strategy in the election campaign, saying: “I’ve already spelled out our Brexit prospectus.” Likely impact of election on UK economy
The prime minister insisted she was “not seeking a blank cheque” for Brexit. But she believes an election mandate will insulate her against opposition criticism — and potential attacks from Eurosceptics on her own side — during Brexit.
According to the FT poll tracker, the Conservatives have an 18-point lead over Labour with bookmakers offering odds as low as 1/10 on a Tory victory. Electoral Calculus predicts a Tory majority 130, compared with the current majority of 17.
But Mrs May admitted on Wednesday morning: “Every election is a risk.” The prime minister also ruled out going head-to-head with her opponents on television ahead of June’s poll, telling the BBC: “We won’t be doing television debates.”
The prime minister’s stance marks a departure from her predecessor. In 2010, David Cameron participated in three closely watched debates with then-Labour and Lib Dem leaders Gordon Brown and Nick Clegg. In 2015, Mr Cameron took part in a seven-way debate with the leaders of all major parties, including the Scottish National party, the UK Independence Party, the Greens and Plaid Cymru.
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn and Liberal Democrat leader Tim Farron have both called for televised debates before June’s snap election, even if Mrs May refuses to participate.
Leading Labour and Lib Dem politicians will set out their positions on Wednesday morning, as the opposition parties prepare manifestos for the forthcoming contest.
John McDonnell, the shadow chancellor who remains one of Mr Corbyn’s closest allies, said a Labour government would increase taxes for big companies and “rich” people earning more than £70,000.
Meanwhile, Sir Vince Cable, the former business secretary who will stand in his old seat of Twickenham, effectively ruled out any post-election deal between the Liberal Democrats and Labour, saying it was “utterly remote” to think Mr Corbyn could become prime minister.