British Parliament approves snap election

British lawmakers have, as expected, voted in favour of the snap election proposed yesterday by Prime Minister Theresa May, setting the date for June 8.

MPs from across the political spectrum voted 522-13 for a return to the polls well abovethe two-thirds majority requiredunder British law.

May said the election is needed to stabilize her Conservative Party and the British government ahead of negotiations to leave the European Union. The next general election wasn't due until 2020, one year after Brexit talksare scheduled to conclude.

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"I believe that at this moment of enormous nationalsignificance there should be unity here in Westminster notdivision," she said as MPs debated in Parliament.

"That's why it is the right andresponsible thing for all of us here today to vote for a generalelection."

But May,who had repeatedly ruled out the possibility of an early election,has faced criticism for the sudden reversal.

"How can any voter trust what the prime minister says?" asked Jeremy Corbyn, leader of the Labour Party.

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May's Conservatives have 330 seats in the 650-seat House of Commons and are polling well ahead of Labour,the main Opposition party.Parliament will be dissolved on May 2.

The prime minister's own personal ratings also dwarf thoseofCorbyn, with 50 per cent of those askedsaying she would make the best prime minister.Corbynwins only14 per cent, according to pollsterYouGov.

May, previously the interior minister, took over as prime minister following the resignation of David Cameron last year after voters said Yes to Brexit.

The Conservatives have ruled for seven years. They formed part of a coalition government in 2010, a majority in 2015and are expected to return to power on June 8, which would handMay anew mandate for a series of reforms she wants to make and also a vote of confidence forher vision of a "hard" Brexit.

A number of MPs abstained from Wednesday's vote, including those with the Scottish National Party.

May earlier ruled out participating in televised debates with other leaders. TV debates don't have a long history in British politics, but were a feature of the last two elections, in 2010 and 2015.

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