Prime Minister Theresa May has this morning called a snap general election meaning Swindonian’s will head to the polls just weeks after the local parish elections on May 4th.
Here is everything you need to know.
What is a snap general election?
The Fixed-term Parliaments Act 2011 provides for general elections to be held on the first Thursday in May every five years. However, a snap general election is an election called earlier than expected.
What happens next?
After today’s announcement the snap general election will only go ahead if two thirds of MPs vote in favour of it.
The vote is due to take place on the House of Commons tomorrow.
Has the UK had a snap general election before?
Yes, the last one in 1979.
It was called when the Labour government of James Callaghan narrowly lost a confidence motion. Margaret Thatcher leading The Conservatives then defeated the Labour government.
