The UK will hold a general election, likely to be held on 12 December, after members of Parliament backed PM Boris Johnson’s bid for a snap poll.
The government failed to get the two-thirds majority of votes required under the Fixed-term Parliaments Act when MPs voted on Monday on whether or not to hold an early general election.
But on Tuesday Mr Johnson’s team tabled a one-page bill to the Commons which needed the support of only a simple majority of MPs.
Labour’s amendment to change the date of the proposed election from 12 to 9 December was rejected and MPs voted to back the government’s original bill by 438 votes to 20.
The legislation approved by MPs on Tuesday, will now go to the House of Lords today, where it is not expected to be opposed.
Boris Johnson hopes the election will give him a fresh mandate for his Brexit deal and break the current deadlock in Parliament, which has led to the UK’s exit from the EU being further delayed to 31 January. He has said he is ready to fight a “tough” general election
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said the general election gave a “once-in-a-generation” opportunity to transform the country.
The Lib Dems and the SNP both see the election as a chance to ask voters whether Brexit should happen at all.
The pro-EU leader of the Lib Dems, Jo Swinson, said: “It is our best chance to elect a government to stop Brexit.”
Plaid Cymru Arfon MP Hywel Willaims said: “Plaid Arfon teams are already out and about across the constituency. It’s vital we re-elect a local voice back to Westminster to speak up for Arfon and Wales.”
You can still register to vote in the election
https://www.gov.uk/register-to-vote
