Islwyn’s Member of Parliament Chris Evans has described the upcoming UK General Election as “the most important for generations”.
Earlier today, MPs in the House of Commons voted 522 to 13 in favour of the June 8 election – in accordance with the rules of the Fixed-term Parliaments Act.
Conservative Prime Minister Theresa May made the shock announcement to hold a General Election on Tuesday, April 18, and tabled a motion which had to get a two-thirds majority.
Caerphilly County Borough’s three Labour MPs have said they will fight for a change of UK Government – just two years after the last UK General Election.
Islwyn MP Chris Evans said: “Our country is at a crossroads. Article 50 has been triggered and we will be leaving the European Union. The people deserve the chance to choose a new government which will implement a vision for our future relationship with the EU and the rest of the world.
“This election will be the most important for generations. It will influence the path our country takes for many years to come. I would strongly encourage everyone to register to vote and have their say in this vital election.’
Wayne David, MP for Caerphilly, said that Labour will “fight hard”.
He said: “In the Caerphilly constituency and throughout the country Labour will fight hard to highlight the divisive policies of the Conservative government and show that there is a better way forward for Wales and Britain. We need a government that puts the views of the majority first.”
Announcing the snap election outside Number Ten yesterday, the Prime Minister said: “After the country voted to leave the EU, Britain needed certainty, stability and strong leadership. Since I became prime minister the government has delivered precisely that.”
Meanwhile, the decision to call an election, which goes against earlier promises made by the Prime Minister not to go to the polls, will see Wales retain its complement of 40 MPs until at least 2022.
Under proposals from the Boundary Commission for Wales, the constituency of Islwyn was set to be axed for the now scrapped 2020 General Election.
In a statement, the Boundary Commission said: “We have recently completed the second consultation of the 2018 Boundary Review and will be spending time over the summer analysing the 25,000 public comments that we have received on them. If we decide to revise our proposals, we will publish the revised constituencies and consult on them, probably towards the end of 2017. The Parliamentary Constituencies Act requires us to report our recommendations to Parliament in September 2018 and we are on track to do so.
“Should Parliament agree to implement our recommendations, the new boundaries we recommend will be in place at the next General Election after that time. In accordance with the Fixed-term Parliaments Act 2011, that election is due to be held in May 2022.”
“The most important general election for generations.” Am I missing something important here? More important than 1945 that ushered in the welfare state? More important than 1979 which gave Thatcher free rein to change Britain? More important than 1997 that allowed Blair to fight several, unwise, wars in the Balkans and Middle East? More important than 2015 that paved the way for the EU referendum?
No, just a ridiculous soundbite remark. This election is most likely a ploy for the existing, democratically elected, government to increase its majority in favourable conditions. Don’t read anything signifigant into this beyond that. If Gordon Brown had possessed the courage and political skill he would have called a similar election as soon as he took over from famous public school educated, hero of the working class, Anthony Charles Lynton Blair.