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# Snap Happy
'Crush the saboteurs': Here's how the British press reacted to Theresa May calling an election
Three polls released over the weekend show May’s Conservatives around 20 points ahead.
BY NOW YOU will know that Britain is heading back to the polls for a second general election in two years.
Prime Minister Theresa May yesterday said that the country will vote on 8 June, if two-thirds of MPs approve an election today.
May needs to bolster her narrow majority of 17 seats ahead of likely tortuous talks with Brussels that could re-open old wounds within her Conservative Party.
The Daily Mail‘s front page echoed that sentiment, saying that May had vowed to “crush the saboteurs” both within her own party and in parliament. The Sun‘s front page, meanwhile, says that May wants to kill off the Labour Party and rebel factions within her own party:
The Mirror accused May of putting herself and her party ahead of the interests of the country.
Opinion polls put the Conservatives – who currently hold 330 of parliament’s 650 seats – way ahead of Labour, who have 229.
Three polls released over the weekend show May’s Conservatives around 20 points ahead.
Britain’s second female prime minister also appears to have won strong popular support for her handling of the political earthquake unleashed by Brexit.
“May heads for election landslide,” read The Times‘ front page.
The Telegraph reflected the nation’s surprise at the imminent election: “May’s bolt from the blue”.
Others, such as The Guardian and The Daily Express reported on May’s desire to have a strong majority in parliament heading into Brexit negotiations.
Britain’s next election had been scheduled for May 2020, but a two-thirds majority vote in parliament could overrule that.
Labour has already said it supports an early election.
Read: What does a UK election mean for Ireland? It could be good news you know…
