United Kingdom lawmakers back prime minister’s call for June 8 election

His impassioned speech, the first formal one of the electoral campaign, highlighted the huge ideological divide at the heart of the surprise snap election due to take place on June 8.

May formally notified the European Union on March 29 of Britain’s intention to leave, and has said she is confident of reaching a deal on the terms of withdrawal in the two years available.

The Tories will, however, face pressure from enthusiastic EU-backing Lib Dems who will seek to re-gain seats that they lost in the 2015 General Election.

Mr Corbyn said Labour would not “play by the rules” if it won the election, but would take on the “cosy cartels that are hoarding this country’s wealth for themselves”.

Mrs. May, who became PM last July after the European Union referendum, told MPs that it would be wrong for the United Kingdom to find itself reaching the most “difficult and sensitive” phase of Brexit negotiations in late 2018 and early 2019 at a time when a general election was “looming on the horizon”.

London: Exasperated by news of yet another major vote, Britons have found an unlikely champion in “Brenda from Bristol”, whose incredulous reaction to the prospect became a viral hit.

Facing steep odds and low popularity ratings, Britain’s main opposition leader launched his election campaign on Thursday, painting himself as a populist outsider who will overturn a “rigged” political and economic system.

He made only a passing reference to Brexit, widely described as Britain’s biggest challenge since World War Two, saying he wanted to focus on life after leaving the EU.

He said that the “Remainders” will vote for Liberal Democrats and Labour and that means Theresa May will not get what she is hoping for.

As the debate began, former chancellor George Osborne – who has recently been appointed editor of the London Evening Standard – announced he would not be standing for election on June 8.

That prompted claims from the Conservatives that Labour was planning to disrupt Brexit. “What we need to do, though, is to look at how that money is spent, and make sure that we are able to spend that money in the most effective way”.

She said the Conservatives would provide “strong and stable leadership” for Brexit and beyond, and promising to wage “a positive and optimistic campaign”.

“Our position hasn’t changed and we have laid out our six tests for any Brexit deal”, she said.

May’s call comes despite a law passed in 2011 under Cameron’s coalition government aimed at keeping elections five years apart to prevent precisely this kind of uncertainty.

The prime minister urged voters to give her “the mandate to speak for Britain and to deliver for Britain”.