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Newbury News Ltd. Print-Digital-Social
Newbury News Ltd. Print-Digital-Social
Tue, 18 Apr 2017
john.herring@newburynews.co.uk
Prime Minister Theresa May has today announced her intention to hold a General Election on Thursday, June 8.
Mrs May said it was "necessary to secure the strong and stable leadership the country needs to see us through Brexit and beyond."
Newbury MP Richard Benyon told NewburyToday that he was surprised by the announcement but understood Mrs May's desire to increase her mandate.
He said: "We can do really well and get a bigger majority and that will be a chance for people to vote, not just on Brexit and how we have responded to the referendum, but the domestic agenda which I know is important to her."
MPs will vote tomorrow (Wednesday) on whether an election should be held, with a two-thirds majority required to trigger the election.
Mrs May had said that she would rule out a snap election but in today's announcement said she had reluctantly changed her mind.
This, she said, was because Labour, the Liberal Democrats and the Scottish National Party would oppose the government's negotiations for exiting the European Union.
"At this moment of enormous national significance there should be unity here in Westminster, but instead there is division," Mrs May said.
"The country is coming together, but Westminster is not.
"Our opponents believe that because the Government's majority is so small, our resolve will weaken and that they can force us to change course.
"They are wrong.
"They under-estimate our determination to get the job done and I am not prepared to let them endanger the security of millions of working people across the country."
Mr Benyon agreed, saying: "I think she's increasingly frustrated with the mood at Westminster where Labour said they would hold the right to vote against important legislation like the great reform bill.
"She wants to ensure that the government can get this through with a workable majority. A majority of 12 is not good."
Newbury's Liberal Democrat candidate Judith Bunting said that the election was "the best thing that could have happened."
Ms Bunting said that the election would give people a chance to vote on the "government's interpretation of Brexit."
"They either vote Conservative and get a hard Brexit, or they don't and we can stop this in it's tracks," she said.
"I think this is a good decision for the country."
For more reaction see Thursday's Newbury Weekly News.
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Article comments
NewburyLad
19/04/2017 - 18:06
The last thing this country needs is Lib Dems in power. They are just another version of the Labour party.
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EugeneStryker
20/04/2017 - 09:09
NewburyLad, unfettered Tory control is the worst possible scenario for this country. The policies that the Nasty Party now point to try to persuade the electorate that they aren't a bunch of bastards are a result of the Lib Dems in coalition. I simply can't fathom why people vote Conservative agreeing that our children need fewer teachers, our sick need fewer nurses and our elderly need less social care. The poorest need less money to persuade them into work whilst the richest need tax breaks and huge bonuses to get them to do their jobs.
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spikey
19/04/2017 - 06:06
I don't trust benyon or the tories not even in wbc, I def don't trust lib dems either, when they have wasted huge amount of money and as Julian swift hook who is the criminal for all the errors in ntc and also at greenham control tower which they wasted thousands of pounds, not only from grants or loans but from tax payers. They the lib dems can not give a straight answer, one say one thing to you and another one says completely different. Lib dems are numpties, can not and should not be trusted in being in no10 or in gpc,or wbc or ntc. Labour a joke, ukip might get my vote but they need to sort themselves out. But again might not vote as the parties in west Berkshire are incompetent and only looking after themselves and there rich friends in west Berkshire. So who can we really trust to run west Berkshire council and be in power for the whole of the uk.
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EugeneStryker
19/04/2017 - 10:10
Spikey, the issue with you not voting for the Liberal Democrats in Newbury is helping return Benyon to power. No political party is without its faults and unfortunately sometimes mismanagement of local projects (do spend some time researching what the Lib Dems managed in coalition), but take a careful look at what multi-millionaire landowner Benyon stands for. If you think our children should get a good education, that the NHS is there should you become ill, that the police have the resources to investigate and prevent crime and that the fire brigade turn up if you crash your car or your house is on fire then get out and VOTE against Benyon, please.
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NWNThatcham
18/04/2017 - 18:06
Time for Benson's disregard of his constituency to be judged. Let's not forget: Richard refused to challenge the settlement which slashed W.Berks budget by 44%, he has NEVER voted against the whip, he is supporting a hard Brexit which will force us out of the Single Market, increase inflation, and cost jobs. The Conservatives have overseen an increase in the National Debt to £1.7 trillion. Their austerity policy is failing but that doesn't stop Richard voting through tax breaks for high earners, using parliamentary expenses to pay his sister as a 'researcher' whilst voting through the removal of welfare benefits. With an estate worth well over £100mln you have to ask how can Richard be a trusted representative for the people of Newbury.
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NWNThatcham
18/04/2017 - 18:06
Benyon not Benson! Bloody autocorrect.
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thepublandlord
18/04/2017 - 17:05
The lib dems will do very well this time. They"ll do so well that they will need a bigger transit van. to hold their party conference in .
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