The Fixed Term Parliaments Act was a dumb idea in the first place. In a Westminster style Parliament flexibility for the timing of an election can keep both sides honest.
In this case Labour are going to pay dearly for having Jeremy Corbin as a leader. But he will be forced out after a near certain loss and the UK can get a functioning opposition again.
Policies aside, Corbin has been a poor leader who has divided his party against itself. He needs to go for Labour to rebuild.
The Tories will get a solid mandate to finish withdrawl from the EU.
The Lib Dems and UKIP will get to sort out their future
I agree entirely. I regard the move to fixed terms in many Westminster Parliaments as an abomination. I just didn’t really think May would have the guts to abandon it during this term (I thought it might go during the required review outlined in the Act in... 2020 from memory). I am pleasantly surprised that she has done this.
Concur, one of the virtues of the British system is a flexible election cycle. However, from some brief research, these elections sometimes backfire on the party that called them. Thought it would seem unlikely in this case.
The only politician I have read that is on the record opposing this is Nicola Sturgeon. I suspect that the reason for her opposition is that Scotland may be the one place that Labour may actually gain seats.
We will see.
nm’75- I appreciate your efforts to enlighten FReepers on the British political process. Most of understand it about as well as non-Americans understand the Electoral College... i.e. not at all.