Prime Minister Theresa May has called a General Election

"Division in Westminster will risk our ability to make a success of Brexit and it will cause damaging uncertainty and instability to the country."

On Tuesday 18th April, Prime Minister Theresa May announced that her Cabinet had agreed that they wished to hold a General Election. 

Her reasons included wanting unity when making decisions for Brexit, and being blocked every step of the way by various opposing parties and members of the House of Lords.

"At this moment of enormous national significance there should be unity here in Westminster, but instead there is division.

The country is coming together, but Westminster is not."

Following this announcement, Parliament voted through the motion to overturn the Fixed Term Parliament Act which sets Parliamentary sessions at 5 year terms before the next general election can be called. This was passed by 522 to 13. The Parliament.uk website notes that:

Under the Fixed-term Parliaments Act 2011, general elections are scheduled to take place every five years and the next general election was scheduled to take place on 7 May 2020. However, the Fixed-term Parliaments Act allows for an earlier election to take place:

- If a motion for an early general election is agreed either by at least two-thirds of the whole House or without division

- Or, if a motion of no confidence is passed and no alternative government is confirmed by the Commons within 14 days.

The General Election will be voted on on June 8th. In the run up to this, Policy Connect's team will be working hard to cover the election news and share it with our members and followers alike here on the newly launch Policy Snap Hub.