2017 general election

2017 general election
Sladnick (talk) 05:55, 10 August 2020 (UTC) · Public domain · source
Name	2017 general election
Country	United Kingdom
Type	parliamentary
Election date	8 June 2017
Previous election	2015 general election
Next election	2019 general election

2017 general election The 2017 general election was a snap parliamentary election held in the United Kingdom on 8 June 2017. Called by Prime Minister Theresa May of the Conservative Party and precipitated by events including the Manchester Arena bombing and the Westminster attack, the contest featured major parties such as the Labour Party, the Liberal Democrats, the Scottish National Party, and the DUP. Issues central to the campaign included Brexit, national security, and public services such as the National Health Service.

Background and Context

In the run-up to the election, the UK was governed by a Conservative minority following the rise of the Conservatives in the 2015 general election and the 2016 EU referendum. The decision to seek a new mandate involved interactions among figures and institutions such as Theresa May, Philip Hammond, Boris Johnson, David Davis, Jeremy Corbyn, John McDonnell, and parliamentary procedures in Westminster. International context included responses from leaders like Angela Merkel, Emmanuel Macron, Donald Trump, and institutions such as the European Commission, NATO, and the United Nations. Domestic pressures featured debates over the Good Friday Agreement, Scottish independence referendum, and fiscal policy overseen by the Office for Budget Responsibility and the Bank of England.

Electoral System and Key Dates

The election used the First-past-the-post electoral system for seats in the House of Commons, with 650 constituencies including seats in England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. The Prime Minister sought the dissolution of Parliament via the Fixed-term Parliaments Act 2011, gaining royal assent from Elizabeth II for the writs. Key dates included the announcement, close of nominations coordinated with the Electoral Commission, and polling day on 8 June 2017, with counts organized by local authorities such as the Greater London Authority and returning officers in constituencies like Manchester Central and Islington North. Campaign finance, regulated by the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000, and rules enforced by the Information Commissioner's Office and Crown Prosecution Service influenced spending, advertising, and data use.

Parties, Leaders and Campaigns

Major party leaders in the campaign were Theresa May (Conservative), Jeremy Corbyn (Labour), Tim Farron (Liberal Democrats), Nicola Sturgeon (Scottish National Party), Arlene Foster (Democratic Unionist Party), Gerry Adams (Sinn Féin), and Mary Lou McDonald (though Sinn Féin pertains to Republic of Ireland politics as well). Campaign themes featured manifestos from parties drawing on plans for the NHS, taxation overseen by the HM Treasury, and immigration policies linked to the Home Office. High-profile campaign events included rallies at venues like Alexandra Palace, debates broadcast by the BBC, and appearances in media outlets such as The Guardian, The Daily Telegraph, The Sun, and Sky News. Influential endorsements and critiques came from figures including Tony Blair, Gordon Brown, Nick Clegg, Michael Gove, Iain Duncan Smith, and international commentators from The Washington Post and Le Monde.

Opinion Polling and Media Coverage

Opinion polling featured organizations such as YouGov, Ipsos MORI, Survation, Opinium, ComRes, and the British Polling Council, with aggregated forecasts by analysts at The Economist and Financial Times. Polls fluctuated dramatically after debates and events involving leaders like Theresa May and Jeremy Corbyn, with coverage across broadcasters including the BBC, ITV, Channel 4, and international networks such as CNN and Al Jazeera. Press commentary ranged from editorial positions in newspapers like The Guardian, Daily Mail, The Times, Financial Times, and Daily Mirror to analysis by think tanks such as the Institute for Public Policy Research and the Institute of Economic Affairs. Social media platforms, including Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube, amplified campaign messages, fundraising appeals, and targeted advertising regulated under rules from the Electoral Commission.

Election Results and Analysis

The election produced a hung Parliament, with seat totals altered for parties such as the Conservatives, Labour, SNP, Liberal Democrats, Plaid Cymru, Green Party, DUP, Sinn Féin, and smaller parties in Northern Ireland. Prominent constituency outcomes included defeats and holds in seats like Kensington, Tatton, Islington North, and Wakefield. Electoral analysis referenced turnout statistics from the Electoral Commission, vote share shifts studied by academics at London School of Economics, University of Oxford, University of Cambridge, and polling experts including Nate Silver-style aggregators. Analysts debated effects of tactical voting advocated by movements associated with Best for Britain and campaign controversies involving figures such as Priti Patel, Liam Fox, Sadiq Khan, and Diane Abbott.

Government Formation and Aftermath

Following the results, Theresa May negotiated confidence-and-supply support with the DUP to sustain a minority administration, involving discussions in 10 Downing Street and meetings with party chairs. Opposition activity was coordinated by Jeremy Corbyn and shadow cabinet members including John McDonnell and Emily Thornberry. Subsequent developments included votes on confidence and supply, parliamentary defeats and amendments in the Commons, debates in the House of Lords, and continued negotiations related to the Brexit process with the European Commission and heads of state such as Jean-Claude Juncker and Donald Tusk. The political landscape ahead of the 2019 general election saw implications for leaders like Theresa May, Boris Johnson, Jeremy Corbyn, and parties including the Conservatives, Labour, and SNP, shaping realignments around issues addressed by institutions like the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom and the Crown Prosecution Service.

Category:2017 elections