Conservative landslide victory paves way for British prime minister to complete Brexit
(Baonghean) - British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and his ruling party seem to have secured a resounding victory in the early election that took place on December 12. Information from the post-voting polls shows that this result is likely to pave the way for the foggy country to officially say goodbye to the European Union (EU).
Boris Johnson will “win big”…
According to AFP, the Conservative Party is predicted to win with an overwhelming number of 368 seats out of 650 seats in the British Parliament.
If the figures based on a survey released after the elections are officially confirmed, this would be the party's strongest majority in three decades.
One of the first positive impacts from the forecasts of the results, which were painted by all sides as the most dynamic election in Britain in a generation, was the news that the pound had jumped, gaining 2 percentage points against the US dollar.
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| Johnson's Conservative Party is expected to win 368 seats in Parliament. Photo: AF |
Mr Johnson himself campaigned tirelessly on the promise of “Getting Brexit Done”, pledging to end years of political turmoil over Britain’s future that have weighed on the economy and deepened deep divisions in the country.
Therefore, if he has an overwhelming majority in the number of MPs in parliament, there is no doubt that he will be able to get the "divorce" agreement he reached with Brussels approved by parliament, while still ensuring time, in time for the upcoming Brexit deadline of January 31, 2020.
Ratification of the Brexit deal will formally end nearly five decades of EU-UK integration, although both sides still need to work out a new trade and security agreement.
EU leaders are in Brussels for a summit and are closely monitoring the results of the UK election.
French Minister for European Affairs Amelie de Montchalin was the first to welcome the result: “If the exit polls are confirmed, it will allow for a clear majority, which has been lacking in the United Kingdom for several years.”
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| Party officials watch the vote count in Glasgow, Scotland. Photo: Getty |
Some win, some lose
When Johnson's victory is officially confirmed, it will be the biggest victory for the Conservatives since 1987.
In the third election in just under five years, the British people have overcome the "resistance" of winter storms and cold winds, to queue up to cast their own votes to decide the future of their country.
And as mentioned above, once Johnson's victory is officially confirmed, it will be the greatest victory for the Conservative Party since 1987, when the Iron Lady Margaret Thatcher was still in Downing Street.
Surely Mr. Johnson must be very happy with this positive trend in his favor, when he posted a status on Twitter, thanking those who voted and supported his party, and added: "We are living in the best democracy in the world."
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| British Prime Minister and his dog Dilyn after the election on December 12. Photo: AP |
While some are laughing, others are crying, in contrast to the jubilation that is creeping into the Conservative Party, on the other side, post-election polls are hinting at a disastrous outlook for the main opposition Labour Party, which is predicted to win only 191 seats, its worst result since 1935.
Left-wing leader Jeremy Corbyn has promised a second referendum on Brexit, in an attempt to “appeal” to the half of British voters who still want to stay in the EU.
But he focused the Labour Party's election campaign on a radical programme of economic change, including nationalisation of key industries, which failed to resonate with traditional voters.
“It seems like Brexit has taken over,” Mr Corbyn’s close aide John McDonnell admitted. “There’s a lot of Brexit fatigue. People just want it over and done with.”
Not to mention that Mr. Corbyn himself is unpopular and has been accused of “sympathizing” with terrorist groups, and was even described by former Labor Party Home Secretary Alan Johnson as “incompetent and useless”…
And now, he and his Labour Party face the looming threat of a fourth consecutive election defeat, and their second under Corbyn. The result? The party could very well be out of power until 2024.
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| Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn and his wife Laura Alvarez after leaving a polling station in Islington, London. Photo: AP |
The anti-Brexit Liberal Democrats are also on a downward spiral, with a forecast of just 13 seats, just one more than they won in the election two years ago.
They did well in the European Parliament elections earlier this year, but their new leader Jo Swinson has not impressed and experts say her promise to reverse Brexit without a new referendum is also unpopular. Meanwhile, the Scottish National Party (SNP), which wants to block Brexit and win Scottish independence, is forecast to win 55-59 seats.
Softer Brexit?
Johnson remains a polarising figure in Britain, thanks to his leadership in the 2016 Brexit referendum. But he has once again demonstrated his ability to appeal across political lines, as he did as mayor of London, with the help of a simple message on Brexit.
He has promised to put his Brexit plan to Parliament before the Christmas recess, although it is unlikely to be passed before January. He will then have 11 months to work towards a new partnership with the EU before the post-Brexit transition period ends in December 2020.
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| "Prime Minister Johnson now has a freer hand to negotiate a softer version of Brexit," said expert Simon Hix of the London School of Economics. |
But with a comfortable majority in Parliament, analysts note, he could choose to extend the deadline and negotiate a tighter trade deal than previously expected. “Ironically, Johnson now has a freer hand to negotiate a softer version of Brexit,” says Simon Hix of the London School of Economics.