But I'm posting this because I thought some Freepers might be interested in the British constitutional position on this, as it's likely to come up in the media over the next few days until something is decided. I don't think there are any actually qualified British constitutional lawyers around here - but I've made a pretty decent study of it (to Masters degree level) and often find myself explaining things here.
The situation is somewhat murky and there are people who are already saying they don't believe the election can be postponed. I'm fairly sure they are wrong. My understanding is that this would represent one of those very rare cases where the Queen's remaining reserve powers as Monarch come into play - contrary to the belief of many, the Queen is not just a figurehead - she still has real power. She's just bound by convention not to exercise that power except in very specific circumstances, such as to avert a constitutional crisis. She does, in my view, have the power to delay the election if Prime Minister May requests her to. And it will be her decision as to whether to grant that request.
I suspect in the current circumstances she would grant such a request of her Prime Minister, especially if it was supported by the Leader of the Opposition as she would only be expected to oppose it if it was very clearly an improper request.
The closest precedent I can think of for the situation is that Britain did not have a general election during the First World War, or during most of the Second World War, even though elections were 'due' in both cases. The Kings at the time accepted the recommendation of the Prime Minister and Cabinet that the seriousness of the situation facing the United Kingdom was so grave that resources could not be wasted on electioneering, and potential instability. In both cases, it was agreed that an election would be held as soon as the crisis eased, and in both cases that happened - the 1918 election was held just over a month after the Armistice, the 1945 election was held after the war in Europe had ended, although the Pacific War was still ongoing. I would not say the situation at present is as grave as either of those, but the precedent does exist and is reasonably recent.
The situations aren't precisely the same as in neither of the World War scenarios was an election that had actually been called and for which writs had been issued postponed. But the precedent for the Royal prerogative coming into play is there.
The terrorists did all the campaigning anyone needs to see. How much more innocent blood before the majority has seen enough?
I think your first sentence covers it.
If they delay the election, it will signal the terrorists that they can affect British elections (and other things) any ole time they want.
The best thing to do right now, it get touch!
Show strength and determination.
Make a show of force, a very strong one.
May could really “come of age” on this. Go for it!
As for the Mayor of London, man what were they thinking?
May is done.
She refused to heed the advice from Donald Trump to secure her nation.
May was likely convinced by the Mayor of London, muslim Sadiq Khan, to stand down the military security from South London that May had put in place after the Westminster Bridge terror incident, and after the concert suicide bombing in the Midlands.
May is now a dimmi. Doubtful she will ever be able to win a re-election. May has failed repeatedly to secure her country, opting to follow the lefts open door immigration policies, and non military security options.
You saw the result last night.
May has failed. She can postpone the election all she wants, she will never win now. The terror attacks will continue until Myas replacement rounds up every radical Muslim in Britain, and closes every madrassa for good.
Thank you. That is very interesting analysis.
Thank you for posting. I did not read the name of the poster until just after beginning the second paragraph of your own commentary, and I was not disappointed. Your commentary is more valuable than the article. Thanks from Canada.
It's not a tragedy. It's an act of war. Only egg sucking dog politicians call it a tragedy.
So, the UK wants to get rid of the Conservative person by voting for the liberal who will bend over backwards to Islam?
The government might as well be an enemy.
Can anyone point me to a case of a fleeing policeman in the US?
The General Election is going ahead on Thursday. Theresa May will remain prime minister after it.
Corbyn, McDonnell, Abbot and Thornberry are unthinkable.
In 2001, Parliament had already been dissolved ahead of a GE planned for May 3, when the Foot and Mouth disease crisis forced the Goverment to limit movement of people from certain areas to stop the spread of the disease. Tony Blair subsequently moved the election date to June 7.
Why? So they can import enough new Muslims to overturn Brexit?
Some pols would love to delay the election, hope people go back to to their complacency, then get themselves reelected.
“PRIME Minister Theresa May is facing pressure to postpone the UK election in the wake of the London terror attack.”
Translation: The EXTREME Muslim-loving FAR-Leftists (although all major parties there love Muslims and are Leftist, hence the qualifiers ‘extreme’ and ‘far’) realize that the MODERATE Muslim-loving MODERATE-Leftists (i.e., the Tories) will gain ground because of this bombing, so the Extreme needs time to regroup.
May was trying to build on the majority Cameron got in the last election.
The Tories cheated a lot in that election and one of their winning candidates, the guy who beat Nigel Farage in South Thanet, was charged with violating election law on Friday.
Peter Hitchens wrote that May knew dozens of her MP’s potentially faced charges over the 2015 election and she may have wanted to beat the negative publicity with an early election call.
The Tories won’t promise not to raise taxes either with a platform that’s less than Conservative.
One thing her election loss or a hung parliament would do is to slow down Brexit, which is a top priority for the Corporatist business and banking elites.
The m*slims have already won, so it makes no difference. The UK already jails innocent people who complain that m*slims are raping and killing them. The UK already gives m*slims a free pass to rape and kill.
They have won, and the UK is on its knees.
The Brits appear to be neutered. The government does not represent the people. Or maybe it does. Was there a large French migration to England in the last 50 years?
Having the elections as scheduled is an advantage to May.
THAT is why the left wants the delay.
Postponing the election would be to the favor of her Brexit opponents. I expect her support to start picking back up in the polls now, after the attacks, because in spite of those attacks she is expected to be stronger against the causes of them than her Labour Party opponents.