Tories surge in polls with 16 point lead after snatching votes from Lib Dems
A NEW poll on Westminster voting intention has shown a 16 point lead for the Tories.
Brexit: Kwasi Kwarteng 'pleased' bill got through second reading
The Opinium poll, conducted between October 23-25, sees the Conservatives poll at 40 percent. This is 2.4 percent lower than the voter share they gained in 2017 but in that snap election, Labour secured 40 percent. The opposition party remain in second but are now at just 24 percent. The figures show the Liberal Democrats and the Brexit Party both shedding support.
The Liberal Democrats are at 15 percent, a one point drop from October 17 and the Brexit Party are at 10 percent, a two point drop in the same period.
The Tories have increased by three points, whilst Labour remain the same.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson has called for an election on December 12 and dug into leader of the opposition Jeremy Corbyn for refusing to back a snap election unless he was satisfied no deal was off the table.
Mr Corbyn had called for a snap election 35 times in the last two years.
Yet, the Labour leader abstained both times Mr Johnson called for one in the Commons.
The Prime Minister said: “Parliament has consistently told the country what it doesn’t want – but it has never been willing or able to say what it does want.
“This has left our country unable to move on and do what is needed to get Brexit done.
“My worry is this Parliament will just waste the next three months like it has wasted the last three years.”
READ MORE: ‘Entitled’ Theresa May was 'grumpy' and ignored warnings from aides
The Prime Minister added: “Parliament cannot hold the country hostage any longer.
“Millions of businesses and people cannot plan their futures, this paralysis is causing real damage and the country must move on in 2020.”
The official Labour policy is to back a second referendum.
Whilst it is not clear when the next general election will be parties have already begun selecting candidates for some constituencies.
DON'T MISS
Boris rages at MPs for causing ‘real damage’ over Brexit
Corbyn’s hard left NHS plan ‘would deny us all lifesaving drugs’
Brexit backers hail general election but demand Boris Johnson deliver
Mr Corbyn who has a 33,215 vote majority is set to face Liberal Democrat Nick Wakeling, James Heartfield of the Brexit Party and Caroline Russell from the Greens.
Mr Johnson is set to face Elizabeth Evendon-Kenyon (Liberal Democrat), Mark Keir (Green), Ali Milani (Labour) and Nikki Page (Brexit Party) in Uxbridge and South Ruislip.
Under the Fixed Terms Parliament, the only way to force a general election before 2022 would be to gain support for one by two-thirds of the House of Commons or for the Government to lose a vote of no confidence and then no alternative is formed in 14 days.
If an election does occur on December 12, it will be the latest general election in over a century.
The 1918 general election was held on December 14.
That election saw the Tories win the most seats and votes but saw Liberal Prime Minister David Lloyd George continue to lead a coalition government.
The next election could be the second Mr Corbyn faces as Labour leader after 2017.
It could be the first for Mr Johnson as Tory leader.
Mr Johnson twice won mayoral elections in London in 2008 and 2012, both times facing Ken Livingstone.