ADVERTISEMENTBritain’s Prime Minister Theresa May faces the verdict of voters on Thursday as the country goes to the polls in a snap general election she called seven weeks ago.
The premier voted with husband Philip in her constituency of Maidenhead in southeast England, as a final opinion poll offered good news to her Conservative party.
The Ipsos MORI poll published in the London Evening Standard newspaper showed the Tories widening their lead to 8 percentage points from a 5 point lead in its previous survey.
How to follow the UK election https://t.co/UQOpzCnZdYpic.twitter.com/86vGzgXi0D
— euronews (@euronews) 8 juin 2017
The FINAL election poll is in https://t.co/mvveZ3RCJk
— Evening Standard (@standardnews) 8 juin 2017
May unexpectedly called the election, seeking to increase her working parliamentary majority of 17 seats ahead of the start of negotiations on leaving the European Union.
While voter surveys see her Conservatives winning, they are not forecast to get the landslide victory foreseen at the start of campaigning.
Labour opposition leader and veteran left-winger Jeremy Corbyn cast his ballot in North London. Written off as a no-hoper by many political analysts, his campaign – focussing largely on the need to protect public services – has drawn large fervent crowds to rallies. It has seen Labour narrow the gap in the polls.
In shadow of terror, Britons vote in key election - latest by @alicejritchie#GE2017https://t.co/vIvfVZ5oHZpic.twitter.com/npyckhwyhP
— AFP news agency (@AFP) 8 juin 2017
North of the border, the Scottish National Party of First Minister Nicola Sturgeon is expected to stay firmly in control although polls suggest it may lose some seats.
The vote she really wants is a second referendum on independence for Scotland.
The London and Manchester terror attacks interrupted campaigning and, as people turn out to elect 650 MPs to sit at parliament in Westminster, security is tight.
The British tabloid press, meanwhile, has been giving readers advice on who to vote for, with screaming headlines and visuals on the front pages.
Thursday's MIRROR
"Lies, damned lies, and Theresa May"#tomorrowspaperstoday#bbcpapers
(via @hendopolis)pic.twitter.com/PcUex7Y1Ab— BBC News (UK) (@BBCNews) 7 juin 2017
Thursday’s SUN
“Don’t chuck Britain in the Cor-Bin”#tomorrowspaperstoday#bbcpapers
(viahendopolis</a>)<a href="https://t.co/pzv79SYHqv">pic.twitter.com/pzv79SYHqv</a></p>— BBC News (UK) (BBCNews) 7 juin 2017
with Reuters