What next? 4 questions that must now be answered

Votes being counted at the count for Lozells, Handsworth, Perry Barr and Oscott Ward

Theresa May called the election to remove some of the uncertainty and questions that surrounded the future. But instead of providing answers, the results have instead thrown up some critical questions…

1. How long will Theresa May be Prime Minister for?

Theresa May’s comments at the count at her own Maidenhead constituency, where she talked about “a period of stability”, heavily implied that she was not looking ahead to a full five-year term.

She is currently the shortest-serving Prime Minister since Andrew Bonar Law’s 211-day term in 1922.

May still has another 33 days to survive to pass Sir Alec Douglas-Home’s 362-day stint and a seemingly-massive 11 months to overtake Sir Anthony Eden’s shortlived reign.

Pundits suggest there’s a “50/50 chance” that May will not still be Prime Minister by the weekend.

2. Which other party leaders might fall on their sword?

After the 2015 election, three party leaders – Ed Miliband, Nick Clegg and Nigel Farage – resigned in the immediate aftermath of the election result.

After the 2017 election, the leader who had thought to be most vulnerable, Jeremy Corbyn, is now the most secure.

Liberal Democrat Tim Farron will face questions about a campaign that nearly resulted in him losing his own seat, while the return of Vince Cable and Ed Davey to Parliament present alternatives.

The UKIP leader, Paul Nuttall, will also be under pressure after its vote collapsed and he performed poorly in Boston & Skegness.

However the SNP must find a new leader in Westminster after its leader, Angus Robertson, lost his Moray seat.

 

3. When will the next general election be?

The Fixed-term Parliaments Act of 2011 was meant to establish certainty about when elections take place. It worked for the first term, with David Cameron’s coalition government operating for the full five years.

But Theresa May called an election less than two years later, and the result opens up the possibility of two general elections in the same year for the first time since 1974.

Right now that appears to be far more likely than the next general election being held in 2022.

 

4. What does it mean for Brexit?

It’s far too early to tell, but whatever smooth process was hoped for is now not going to happen. But Article 50 has already been triggered, starting the two-year clock.

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