Summary

As Britons brace themselves for the June 8 election, the debate has evolved from “who” will be championing Brexit to “what kind” of country Britain once it leaves the EU. Theresa May and Jeremy Corbyn hold polar-opposite views on how the country should be led into the future. And although it was the prime minister herself who called the snap election as a referendum on her leadership, there is still a risk that voters are souring on her mantra of being a “strong and stable” leader for Britain. Recent polls put the Conservative Party still on track to win, but it could fall well short of the landslide victory that Prime Minister May had been hoping for.

Impact

A strong mandate for Brexit negotiations. At the time of May’s announcement in April, opinion polls put the Conservative Party ahead of Labour by as much as 21 points. Theresa May boasted high personal ratings just as Jeremy Corbyn was hitting a record low not seen for decades. As the nation debated between a “hard” vs. “soft” Brexit, it seemed opportune for May to take the advice of her cabinet and win a larger majority in Parliament to deliver a clean Brexit. But a clear victory for Theresa May is becoming increasingly unlikely after several mishaps, including May’s embarrassing reversal on social care reform and even the Conservative’s formless campaign slogan: “Forward Together.”