British business on Friday urged Prime Minister <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/brexit-beckons-as-uks-johnson-coasts-to-commanding-win-267999">Boris Johnson</a> to provide clarity and assurances on his <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/we-will-leave-eu-on-january-31-no-ifs-no-buts-says-uk-prime-minister-johnson-amid-resounding-victory-268054">Brexit deal</a>, while stimulating the stalled UK economy, after his Conservative party's emphatic election victory.

"After three years of (political) gridlock, the prime minister has a clear mandate to govern," Carolyn Fairbairn, director-general of the Confederation of British Industry (CBI), said in a statement.

"Businesses across the UK urge him to use it to rebuild confidence in our economy and break the cycle of uncertainty."

Fairbairn said "early reassurance on Brexit will be vital", noting that "firms will continue to do all they can to prepare for Brexit, but will want to know they won't face another 'no deal' cliff-edge next year".

Britain is set to depart the EU by a deadline of January 31 thanks to Johnson's decisive victory in Thursday's general election.

But he still has to negotiate a new economic partnership with the bloc that remains Britain's biggest trading partner.

Catherine McGuinness, policy chair at the City of London Corporation, a local government authority for the capital's powerful financial district, pointed to "a long road ahead" on Brexit with Britain having to negotiate trade deals also with non-EU nations.

"For the City, it is vital that the future framework agreement recognises the enormous contribution of the services sector, securing maximum market access and developing a structure for the UK economy to prosper in the years ahead," she added.

Johnson, whose general election campaign message was 'Get Brexit done', has promised to forge a Canada-style free trade agreement with the European Union, handing Britain greater freedom from EU rules but would involve more barriers and costs to trade.

Also Watch:&nbsp;UK Elections 2019: Boris Johnson wins, now onto Brexit

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"British companies... are eager for some clarity now," Jonathan Geldart, director-general of the Institute of Directors, said on Friday.

"For directors, 'Get Brexit done' will only have meaning once the details of our long-term future<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/eu-ready-for-next-round-of-brexit-talks-council-president-michel-says-hope-we-will-have-loyal-negotiations-268092"> relationship with the EU</a> are clear."

Geldart added: "The prime minister must resist the urge for arbitrary negotiating deadlines, and should commit to a proper adjustment period that starts when businesses know the full detail of what changes they may be facing."

On the domestic front, business leaders on Friday urged the new government to be mindful of shaking up Britain's immigration, noting the need for skilled workers to help grow Britain's stalled economy.

"The UK's future success depends on attracting, retaining and developing high-quality talent," said McGuinness.

"A critical first step is creating an effective and efficient visa system to meet the demand for talented individuals. But the government also needs to look closer to home to supercharge our own skills agenda."

Concerns about mass immigration from the EU was one of the drivers of the Brexit referendum in 2016.

The Conservatives say that the free movement of people will end after Brexit, and want to introduce an "Australia-style" points-based system for both EU and non-EU citizens.

The CBI's Fairbairn on Friday said that "pro-enterprise policies on immigration, infrastructure, innovation and skills, will help relaunch the UK on the world stage".

Adam Marshall, director-general at the British Chambers of Commerce, meanwhile called on the government to push on with improvements to transport infrastructure, including more capacity at London's Heathrow airport and a new high-speed railway linking the capital in southern England with cities in the north.

"Restoring business, investor and consumer confidence -&nbsp;and firing up the economy -&nbsp;must now be the prime minister's top priority," he said.

British business on Friday urged Prime Minister Boris Johnson to provide clarity and assurances on his Brexit deal, while stimulating the stalled UK economy, after his Conservative party's emphatic election victory.

British business on Friday urged Prime Minister Boris Johnson to provide clarity and assurances on his Brexit deal, while stimulating the stalled UK economy, after his Conservative party's emphatic election victory. "After three years of (political) gridlock, the prime minister has a clear mandate to govern," Carolyn Fairbairn, director-general of the Confederation of British Industry (CBI), said in a statement. "Businesses across the UK urge him to use it to rebuild confidence in our economy and break the cycle of uncertainty." Fairbairn said "early reassurance on Brexit will be vital", noting that "firms will continue to do all they can to prepare for Brexit, but will want to know they won't face another 'no deal' cliff-edge next year". Britain is set to depart the EU by a deadline of January 31 thanks to Johnson's decisive victory in Thursday's general election. But he still has to negotiate a new economic partnership with the bloc that remains Britain's biggest trading partner. Catherine McGuinness, policy chair at the City of London Corporation, a local government authority for the capital's powerful financial district, pointed to "a long road ahead" on Brexit with Britain having to negotiate trade deals also with non-EU nations. "For the City, it is vital that the future framework agreement recognises the enormous contribution of the services sector, securing maximum market access and developing a structure for the UK economy to prosper in the years ahead," she added. Johnson, whose general election campaign message was 'Get Brexit done', has promised to forge a Canada-style free trade agreement with the European Union, handing Britain greater freedom from EU rules but would involve more barriers and costs to trade. Also Watch: UK Elections 2019: Boris Johnson wins, now onto Brexit × "British companies... are eager for some clarity now," Jonathan Geldart, director-general of the Institute of Directors, said on Friday. "For directors, 'Get Brexit done' will only have meaning once the details of our long-term future relationship with the EU are clear." Geldart added: "The prime minister must resist the urge for arbitrary negotiating deadlines, and should commit to a proper adjustment period that starts when businesses know the full detail of what changes they may be facing." On the domestic front, business leaders on Friday urged the new government to be mindful of shaking up Britain's immigration, noting the need for skilled workers to help grow Britain's stalled economy. "The UK's future success depends on attracting, retaining and developing high-quality talent," said McGuinness. "A critical first step is creating an effective and efficient visa system to meet the demand for talented individuals. But the government also needs to look closer to home to supercharge our own skills agenda." Concerns about mass immigration from the EU was one of the drivers of the Brexit referendum in 2016. The Conservatives say that the free movement of people will end after Brexit, and want to introduce an "Australia-style" points-based system for both EU and non-EU citizens. The CBI's Fairbairn on Friday said that "pro-enterprise policies on immigration, infrastructure, innovation and skills, will help relaunch the UK on the world stage". Adam Marshall, director-general at the British Chambers of Commerce, meanwhile called on the government to push on with improvements to transport infrastructure, including more capacity at London's Heathrow airport and a new high-speed railway linking the capital in southern England with cities in the north. "Restoring business, investor and consumer confidence - and firing up the economy - must now be the prime minister's top priority," he said.

UK business seeks Brexit assurances after Johnson win

The European Union on Friday said that Brexit is ready for the trade deal with Britain but not at "any price", hours after Boris Johnson secured a sweeping victory in UK general election.

Speaking at the EU summit, Council President Charles Michel also stressed that the bloc would insist that Britain respect European norms to win the deal.

"There is no question of concluding a deal at any price,"&nbsp;said Michel, who coordinates EU summits, after the talks.

"Negotiations are over when the results are balanced and guarantee respect for the different concerns," the former Belgian premier said.

"We have a way of doing things based on experience, transparency and maintaining unity" in the EU, he added.

"My point is very clear, we are ready. We have decided what are our priorities," Michel&nbsp;said, adding,&nbsp;"I hope we will have loyal negotiations, good negotiations."

The EU leaders are holding a summit to discuss the aftermath of the UK vote and Britain's planned departure from the bloc on January 31.

Meanwhile, European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen warned of the tight timing for securing a trade deal with Britain.&nbsp;

"The time frame ahead of us is very challenging," von der Leyen said.

After more than three years of political wrangling over Britain's divorce from the European Union, Johnson vowed in his victory speech to "put an end to all that nonsense" and "get Brexit done on time by January 31, no ifs, no buts".

The potential ratification next month of the EU-UK divorce deal will complete the first stage of the Brexit process, but both sides still need to thrash out a new trade and security agreement.

Meanwhile, Germany Chancellor Angela Merkel warned that Britain would be an economic "competitor at our door" after it leaves the European Union.

(With inputs from agencies)

The European Union on Friday said that Brexit is ready for the trade deal with Britain but not at "any price", hours after Boris Johnson secured a sweeping victory in UK general election.

The European Union on Friday said that Brexit is ready for the trade deal with Britain but not at "any price", hours after Boris Johnson secured a sweeping victory in UK general election. Speaking at the EU summit, Council President Charles Michel also stressed that the bloc would insist that Britain respect European norms to win the deal. "There is no question of concluding a deal at any price," said Michel, who coordinates EU summits, after the talks. "Negotiations are over when the results are balanced and guarantee respect for the different concerns," the former Belgian premier said. "We have a way of doing things based on experience, transparency and maintaining unity" in the EU, he added. "My point is very clear, we are ready. We have decided what are our priorities," Michel said, adding, "I hope we will have loyal negotiations, good negotiations." The EU leaders are holding a summit to discuss the aftermath of the UK vote and Britain's planned departure from the bloc on January 31. Meanwhile, European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen warned of the tight timing for securing a trade deal with Britain. "The time frame ahead of us is very challenging," von der Leyen said. After more than three years of political wrangling over Britain's divorce from the European Union, Johnson vowed in his victory speech to "put an end to all that nonsense" and "get Brexit done on time by January 31, no ifs, no buts". The potential ratification next month of the EU-UK divorce deal will complete the first stage of the Brexit process, but both sides still need to thrash out a new trade and security agreement. Meanwhile, Germany Chancellor Angela Merkel warned that Britain would be an economic "competitor at our door" after it leaves the European Union. (With inputs from agencies)

Ready for Brexit trade deal but not 'at any price': European Union

After the sweeping victory in UK General election, Boris Johnson has head to&nbsp;Buckingham Palace to ask&nbsp;Queen Elizabeth for formal permission to create a new government.

In Thursday's general election, the third in less than five years,&nbsp;the Conservatives secured a sweeping victory, winning more than 360 of the 650 seats in the House of Commons - the party's largest majority since under Margaret Thatcher in the 1980s.&nbsp;

The Johnson's win has secured Britain's exit from&nbsp;the European Union by January 31.

Brexit represents the country's biggest political and economic gamble since World War Two, cutting the world's fifth-largest economy adrift from the vast trading bloc and threatening the integrity of the United Kingdom.

For Johnson, who campaigned on a vow to "Get Brexit Done", victory was a vindication after anti-Brexit opponents tried one manoeuvre after another to thwart him during his first chaotic months in office.

"We will get <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/how-boris-johnsons-election-gamble-paid-off-268083">Brexit done on time by the 31st of January,</a> no ifs, no buts, no maybes," a triumphant Johnson told supporters at a rally in London.

"Leaving the European Union as one United Kingdom, taking back control of our laws, borders, money, our trade, immigration system, delivering on the democratic mandate of the people," he said, reprising the refrains of his successful Brexit referendum campaign of 2016.

Sterling soared, on course for one of its biggest one-day gains in the past two decades

Nearly half a century after Britain joined the EU, Johnson must now strike new international trade deals, preserving London's position as a top global financial capital and keeping the United Kingdom together.

That last goal looks more challenging, with Scotland voting for a nationalist party that wants an independence referendum, and Irish nationalists performing strongly in Northern Ireland.

"Boris Johnson may have the mandate to take England out of the European Union. He emphatically does not have the mandate to take Scotland out of the European Union," said Scotland's first minister, Nicola Sturgeon.

Her Scottish National Party (SNP) won 48 of Scotland's 59 seats in the national parliament.

(With inputs from agencies)

After the sweeping victory in UK General election, Boris Johnson has head to Buckingham Palace to ask Queen Elizabeth for formal permission to create a new government.

After the sweeping victory in UK General election, Boris Johnson has head to Buckingham Palace to ask Queen Elizabeth for formal permission to create a new government. In Thursday's general election, the third in less than five years, the Conservatives secured a sweeping victory, winning more than 360 of the 650 seats in the House of Commons - the party's largest majority since under Margaret Thatcher in the 1980s. The Johnson's win has secured Britain's exit from the European Union by January 31. Brexit represents the country's biggest political and economic gamble since World War Two, cutting the world's fifth-largest economy adrift from the vast trading bloc and threatening the integrity of the United Kingdom. For Johnson, who campaigned on a vow to "Get Brexit Done", victory was a vindication after anti-Brexit opponents tried one manoeuvre after another to thwart him during his first chaotic months in office. "We will get Brexit done on time by the 31st of January, no ifs, no buts, no maybes," a triumphant Johnson told supporters at a rally in London. "Leaving the European Union as one United Kingdom, taking back control of our laws, borders, money, our trade, immigration system, delivering on the democratic mandate of the people," he said, reprising the refrains of his successful Brexit referendum campaign of 2016. Sterling soared, on course for one of its biggest one-day gains in the past two decades Nearly half a century after Britain joined the EU, Johnson must now strike new international trade deals, preserving London's position as a top global financial capital and keeping the United Kingdom together. That last goal looks more challenging, with Scotland voting for a nationalist party that wants an independence referendum, and Irish nationalists performing strongly in Northern Ireland. "Boris Johnson may have the mandate to take England out of the European Union. He emphatically does not have the mandate to take Scotland out of the European Union," said Scotland's first minister, Nicola Sturgeon. Her Scottish National Party (SNP) won 48 of Scotland's 59 seats in the national parliament. (With inputs from agencies)

UK's Boris Johnson heads to Buckingham Palace to ask to form government

Boris Johnson won a massive victory in the UK election, putting the country on course to leave the European Union next month after the biggest shift in British political allegiances for decades. Now the question is will this win get the Brexit done? #UKElections2019 #Brexit #BorisJohnsonWins

UK Elections 2019: Can brute majority 'get Brexit done'?

The long-delayed Brexit is likely to become reality soon with Prime Minister Boris Johnson's Conservative Party recording a resounding victory in Britain's election.

The long-delayed Brexit is likely to become reality soon with Prime Minister Boris Johnson's Conservative Party recording a resounding victory in Britain's election. A landslide victory for the Conservative Party would mark the ultimate failure of opponents of Brexit who plotted to thwart a 2016 referendum vote. An exit poll showed the Conservatives winning a landslide 368 seats, more than enough for a comfortable majority in the 650-seat parliament and the biggest Conservative national election win since Margaret Thatcher's 1987 triumph. "I think this will turn out to be a historic election that gives us now, in this new government, the chance to respect the democratic will of the British people," Johnson said after winning his seat of Uxbridge. He said the Conservatives now had a powerful new mandate to get Brexit done. With results from across Britain indicating the exit poll was accurate, Johnson's bet on a snap election has paid off, meaning he will swiftly ratify the Brexit deal he struck with the EU so that the United Kingdom can leave on Jan. 31 - 10 months later than initially planned. (With inputs from Reuters)

Brexit on course as UK's Johnson coasts to commanding win

The European Union is ready to have next round of Brexit talks, council President&nbsp;Charles Michel said on Friday after&nbsp;Johnson secured Brexit divorce from the bloc with a resounding victory in the UK general election. &nbsp;

Speaking at the EU Summit where leaders will be discussing Britain's exit from the bloc, President Charles Michel said, "My point is very clear, we are ready. We have decided what are our priorities."&nbsp;

"I hope we will have loyal negotiations, good negotiations," said Michel, who coordinates EU summits for the bloc's 28 member states, that for now also includes Britain.

The former Belgian prime minister hoped for "early ratification by the British parliament" of the exit agreement negotiated between London and the EU, "so that we can start the negotiations on the next phase calmly, quietly but with great determination".

The EU leaders have a Brexit text ready to adopt on Friday at the end of their two-day summit, which was dominated on Thursday by climate talks.

In Thursday's general election, the Conservatives secured a sweeping victory, winning more than 360 of the 650 seats in the House of Commons - the party's largest majority since under Margaret Thatcher in the 1980s.&nbsp;

The result handed Johnson his first national election victory but also delivered a dramatic blow to his main competitor, opposition leader Jeremy Corbyn, whose Labour Party suffered heavy losses.

Soon after the result got announced, Johnson promised to not let down voters and Britain will exit EU on January 31.

"We will get Brexit done on time by the 31st of January, no ifs, no buts, no maybes," he said.

(With inputs from agencies)

The European Union is ready to have next round of Brexit talks, council President Charles Michel said on Friday after Johnson secured Brexit divorce from the bloc with a resounding victory in the UK general election.

The European Union is ready to have next round of Brexit talks, council President Charles Michel said on Friday after Johnson secured Brexit divorce from the bloc with a resounding victory in the UK general election. Speaking at the EU Summit where leaders will be discussing Britain's exit from the bloc, President Charles Michel said, "My point is very clear, we are ready. We have decided what are our priorities." "I hope we will have loyal negotiations, good negotiations," said Michel, who coordinates EU summits for the bloc's 28 member states, that for now also includes Britain. The former Belgian prime minister hoped for "early ratification by the British parliament" of the exit agreement negotiated between London and the EU, "so that we can start the negotiations on the next phase calmly, quietly but with great determination". The EU leaders have a Brexit text ready to adopt on Friday at the end of their two-day summit, which was dominated on Thursday by climate talks. In Thursday's general election, the Conservatives secured a sweeping victory, winning more than 360 of the 650 seats in the House of Commons - the party's largest majority since under Margaret Thatcher in the 1980s. The result handed Johnson his first national election victory but also delivered a dramatic blow to his main competitor, opposition leader Jeremy Corbyn, whose Labour Party suffered heavy losses. Soon after the result got announced, Johnson promised to not let down voters and Britain will exit EU on January 31. "We will get Brexit done on time by the 31st of January, no ifs, no buts, no maybes," he said. (With inputs from agencies)

EU ready for next round of Brexit talks; council President Michel says 'hope we will have loyal negotiations'

The mantra of British Prime Minister <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/we-will-leave-eu-on-january-31-no-ifs-no-buts-says-uk-prime-minister-johnson-amid-resounding-victory-268054">Boris Johnson</a> and his Conservative Party during the national election campaign was aimed at harnessing voter frustration at a parliamentary logjam over Britain’s exit from the European Union.

It worked.

Beyond the traditional strategy of swaying voters in swing districts held by the main opposition Labour Party, Johnson wanted to strike directly at Labour’s heartlands in the hopes of winning support from people who had never voted Conservative but for whom Brexit had come to trump even traditional party allegiances.

The Conservatives secured a <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/britain-and-us-free-to-strike-lucrative-trade-deal-after-brexit-trump-268038">sweeping victory</a>, winning more than 360 of the 650 seats in the House of Commons - the party's largest majority since under Margaret Thatcher in the 1980s. The result handed Johnson his first national election victory but also delivered a dramatic blow to his main competitor, opposition leader Jeremy Corbyn, whose Labour Party suffered heavy losses.

For 55-year old Johnson, who only entered Downing Street this summer after his Conservative predecessor resigned, calling an election had been a high-stakes gamble.

But he also considered it a necessity to convert his party’s minority in the House of Commons into a majority and move his government’s agenda forward. Notably, that includes Britain – the world’s fifth-largest economy - exiting the European Union by the end of January, which would mark the country’s most significant trade and foreign policy move since World War Two.

The five-week campaign also saw Johnson facing questions about his personal trustworthiness after his repeated failed promises during the year to deliver Brexit by the end of October “do or die.”

He faced allegations of failing to disclose close personal ties with a U.S. businesswoman who had received thousands of pounds in public business funding while he had been mayor. Jennifer Arcuri publicly said during the campaign she had had “a very special relationship” with Johnson, who has denied any impropriety. A government audit report ruled that a ministerial department’s decision to award a 100,000 pound ($128,000) grant to a company run by Arcuri was appropriate.

The plan early in the campaign was to target around 40 traditionally Labour-supporting seats in northern and central England, a party source close to the campaign said. Johnson launched the Conservative campaign battle bus in Middleton in northwest England, in a district with a slim Labour majority but which saw 62% of voters back Brexit in 2016.

"The strategy is to woo Brexit Party supporters of all colours and to specifically court Labour leave voters especially in the North and Midlands,” said the source, speaking on Oct. 29, the day the House of Commons approved an early election.

"The themes are people versus parliament, let's get Brexit done and move on, and a very merry Brexit to everyone."

Exit polls Thursday evening suggesting a major victory for Johnson caught some in the Conservative camp off guard. “I was stunned,” said one member of Johnson's campaign team, who described the sense of relief that the campaign strategy to keep on message had worked.

As the results of the election rolled in early Friday, it became clear that the Conservatives had succeeded in scooping up seats in districts that had voted Labour for generations, including places like Bishop Auckland and Sedgefield, the seat held by former Labour Prime Minister Tony Blair. However, Johnson’s party had lost seats in some more pro-EU constituencies, such as Putney in London.

"This election means that getting Brexit down is now the irrefutable, irresistible, unarguable decision of the British people," said an ebullient Johnson on Friday morning.

He also addressed those who had voted Conservative for the first time by saying "you may only have lent us your vote" and "you may intend to return to Labour next time round." He added: "I and we will never take your support for granted."

Core message

His often-ruffled appearance, including a distinctive mop of blonde hair, marks a contrast to the discipline and ruthlessness he displayed to get to this point.

Johnson – full name is Alexander Boris de Pfeffel Johnson – took office in July after winning a Conservative Party leadership contest triggered by the resignation of former Prime Minister Theresa May. She had failed to win backing by parliament for a Brexit divorce agreement she had negotiated with the EU.

The new prime minister and his team concluded early on that the only way to change the arithmetic in the House of Commons was to force a new election. But he needed a united front – no easy feat for a party where the issue of Europe has caused infighting and played a role in the downfall of the previous four Conservative prime ministers.

During his first weeks in office he oversaw one of the biggest purges of cabinet ministers in modern British history and expelled from his party 21 Conservative lawmakers who had voted against the prime minister on Brexit, including the grandson of Winston Churchill.

“We weren’t bluffing, and they were wilfully ignorant if they thought differently,” said a senior prime ministerial aide at the time, referring to a message from Johnson to lawmakers that he expected loyalty.

The election campaign officially started in early November and Johnson sought to convince voters that his party was the only one which could break the impasse among politicians in Westminster to enable the country to move forward.

The campaign focused heavily on core Brexit-related messages and was relatively light on policy detail, several members of his campaign team said. "The whole point of this campaign was to keep it tight and focused," said one of his team. "It's all about the messaging."

Team Johnson received a boost when the Brexit Party led by veteran eurosceptic Nigel Farage early on in the campaign said his candidates would not fight for 317 Conservative-held seats to avoid splitting the Leave vote.

Labour, meanwhile, pursued a compromise position on Brexit.

In an effort to unite his party, which was also divided over Europe, Labour’s leader Corbyn settled on a policy of negotiating a new deal to leave the EU followed by a second referendum – a stance that was unpopular with the party’s Brexit voters and even some in his own team.

He instead sought to focus the campaign agenda on a manifesto that included widespread nationalization and spending on public services such as the National Health Service, which the Labour Party established in 1948 and provides health care to all free at the point of delivery.

'Fairy tale'

Johnson’s pitch included a pledge to lower immigration and that Brexit would free up money that Britain would otherwise pay to the EU that could be redirected to spending on public services, including the NHS, at home.

One pledge was to add 50,000 more nurses but, under scrutiny from the opposition and media, the prime minister acknowledged that 19,000 were already working in the NHS, adding that his policies would retain those workers that might otherwise leave.

During an Oct. 13 visit to the northern town of Doncaster, a female member of the public accused him of peddling fiction by promising a rosy future for Britain outside of the EU and being part of a government that had made cuts to public services.

“You've got the cheek to come here and tell us that austerity's over and it's all good now - we're gonna leave the EU and everything's going to be great," the woman told the prime minister during a visit to Doncaster. "It's just a fairy tale."

His responded by saying his government was investing in the area.

Some voters said they planned to support him even if lack of trust was a factor.

"It's tough to believe what they're saying after the time that we've had recently," said Tim Turner, 41, operations director at knitwear manufacturer John Smedley, during a visit by Johnson to a company mill in Derbyshire in central England on Dec. 5, questioning his assertion over the 50,000 nurses.

"I think he's got the best chance, but whether I believe him or not is a different matter," he said. Turner said he had voted before for other parties, including Labour, but would vote for Johnson in this election.

Johnson has repeatedly said that any breach of trust should be blamed on parliament, not him. “The issue before the country is after three and a half years politicians of all parties are held in low esteem because they have refused to get on and deliver on the mandate of the people,” he said on the campaign trail.

Potential liability

Conservative strategists considered Johnson’s personal popularity and proven ability to reach across party lines a key election asset. The charismatic politician helped lead the successful Brexit campaign in the 2016 referendum and is the only Conservative to have been London mayor.

By contrast, recent polls have ranked Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn the least popular opposition leader in decades.

But Johnson’s team were also aware the prime minister, known for his often-colourful turn of phrase and a tendency to go off-script, was a potential liability. On the campaign trail, his team sought to minimise the risk of unflattering encounters with members of the public and with some television interviewers, according to a campaign source.

Many of his interactions with voters were in Conservative-held seats, while in traditional Labour districts the prime minister often visited businesses with sympathetic bosses or organised rallies in venues where attendees could be screened.

In the final days of the campaign, Johnson crisscrossed districts in the north and central England, regions where Labour has traditionally had strong support.

At a factory of British construction equipment maker JCB near Uttoxeter in central England on Tuesday, Johnson drove a digger emblazoned with “get Brexit done” through a makeshift wall emblazoned with the word “GRIDLOCK.”

The mantra of British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and his Conservative Party during the national election campaign was aimed at harnessing voter frustration at a parliamentary logjam over Britain’s exit from the European Union.

The mantra of British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and his Conservative Party during the national election campaign was aimed at harnessing voter frustration at a parliamentary logjam over Britain’s exit from the European Union. It worked. Beyond the traditional strategy of swaying voters in swing districts held by the main opposition Labour Party, Johnson wanted to strike directly at Labour’s heartlands in the hopes of winning support from people who had never voted Conservative but for whom Brexit had come to trump even traditional party allegiances. The Conservatives secured a sweeping victory, winning more than 360 of the 650 seats in the House of Commons - the party's largest majority since under Margaret Thatcher in the 1980s. The result handed Johnson his first national election victory but also delivered a dramatic blow to his main competitor, opposition leader Jeremy Corbyn, whose Labour Party suffered heavy losses. For 55-year old Johnson, who only entered Downing Street this summer after his Conservative predecessor resigned, calling an election had been a high-stakes gamble. But he also considered it a necessity to convert his party’s minority in the House of Commons into a majority and move his government’s agenda forward. Notably, that includes Britain – the world’s fifth-largest economy - exiting the European Union by the end of January, which would mark the country’s most significant trade and foreign policy move since World War Two. The five-week campaign also saw Johnson facing questions about his personal trustworthiness after his repeated failed promises during the year to deliver Brexit by the end of October “do or die.” He faced allegations of failing to disclose close personal ties with a U.S. businesswoman who had received thousands of pounds in public business funding while he had been mayor. Jennifer Arcuri publicly said during the campaign she had had “a very special relationship” with Johnson, who has denied any impropriety. A government audit report ruled that a ministerial department’s decision to award a 100,000 pound ($128,000) grant to a company run by Arcuri was appropriate. The plan early in the campaign was to target around 40 traditionally Labour-supporting seats in northern and central England, a party source close to the campaign said. Johnson launched the Conservative campaign battle bus in Middleton in northwest England, in a district with a slim Labour majority but which saw 62% of voters back Brexit in 2016. "The strategy is to woo Brexit Party supporters of all colours and to specifically court Labour leave voters especially in the North and Midlands,” said the source, speaking on Oct. 29, the day the House of Commons approved an early election. "The themes are people versus parliament, let's get Brexit done and move on, and a very merry Brexit to everyone." Exit polls Thursday evening suggesting a major victory for Johnson caught some in the Conservative camp off guard. “I was stunned,” said one member of Johnson's campaign team, who described the sense of relief that the campaign strategy to keep on message had worked. As the results of the election rolled in early Friday, it became clear that the Conservatives had succeeded in scooping up seats in districts that had voted Labour for generations, including places like Bishop Auckland and Sedgefield, the seat held by former Labour Prime Minister Tony Blair. However, Johnson’s party had lost seats in some more pro-EU constituencies, such as Putney in London. "This election means that getting Brexit down is now the irrefutable, irresistible, unarguable decision of the British people," said an ebullient Johnson on Friday morning. He also addressed those who had voted Conservative for the first time by saying "you may only have lent us your vote" and "you may intend to return to Labour next time round." He added: "I and we will never take your support for granted." Core message His often-ruffled appearance, including a distinctive mop of blonde hair, marks a contrast to the discipline and ruthlessness he displayed to get to this point. Johnson – full name is Alexander Boris de Pfeffel Johnson – took office in July after winning a Conservative Party leadership contest triggered by the resignation of former Prime Minister Theresa May. She had failed to win backing by parliament for a Brexit divorce agreement she had negotiated with the EU. The new prime minister and his team concluded early on that the only way to change the arithmetic in the House of Commons was to force a new election. But he needed a united front – no easy feat for a party where the issue of Europe has caused infighting and played a role in the downfall of the previous four Conservative prime ministers. During his first weeks in office he oversaw one of the biggest purges of cabinet ministers in modern British history and expelled from his party 21 Conservative lawmakers who had voted against the prime minister on Brexit, including the grandson of Winston Churchill. “We weren’t bluffing, and they were wilfully ignorant if they thought differently,” said a senior prime ministerial aide at the time, referring to a message from Johnson to lawmakers that he expected loyalty. The election campaign officially started in early November and Johnson sought to convince voters that his party was the only one which could break the impasse among politicians in Westminster to enable the country to move forward. The campaign focused heavily on core Brexit-related messages and was relatively light on policy detail, several members of his campaign team said. "The whole point of this campaign was to keep it tight and focused," said one of his team. "It's all about the messaging." Team Johnson received a boost when the Brexit Party led by veteran eurosceptic Nigel Farage early on in the campaign said his candidates would not fight for 317 Conservative-held seats to avoid splitting the Leave vote. Labour, meanwhile, pursued a compromise position on Brexit. In an effort to unite his party, which was also divided over Europe, Labour’s leader Corbyn settled on a policy of negotiating a new deal to leave the EU followed by a second referendum – a stance that was unpopular with the party’s Brexit voters and even some in his own team. He instead sought to focus the campaign agenda on a manifesto that included widespread nationalization and spending on public services such as the National Health Service, which the Labour Party established in 1948 and provides health care to all free at the point of delivery. 'Fairy tale' Johnson’s pitch included a pledge to lower immigration and that Brexit would free up money that Britain would otherwise pay to the EU that could be redirected to spending on public services, including the NHS, at home. One pledge was to add 50,000 more nurses but, under scrutiny from the opposition and media, the prime minister acknowledged that 19,000 were already working in the NHS, adding that his policies would retain those workers that might otherwise leave. During an Oct. 13 visit to the northern town of Doncaster, a female member of the public accused him of peddling fiction by promising a rosy future for Britain outside of the EU and being part of a government that had made cuts to public services. “You've got the cheek to come here and tell us that austerity's over and it's all good now - we're gonna leave the EU and everything's going to be great," the woman told the prime minister during a visit to Doncaster. "It's just a fairy tale." His responded by saying his government was investing in the area. Some voters said they planned to support him even if lack of trust was a factor. "It's tough to believe what they're saying after the time that we've had recently," said Tim Turner, 41, operations director at knitwear manufacturer John Smedley, during a visit by Johnson to a company mill in Derbyshire in central England on Dec. 5, questioning his assertion over the 50,000 nurses. "I think he's got the best chance, but whether I believe him or not is a different matter," he said. Turner said he had voted before for other parties, including Labour, but would vote for Johnson in this election. Johnson has repeatedly said that any breach of trust should be blamed on parliament, not him. “The issue before the country is after three and a half years politicians of all parties are held in low esteem because they have refused to get on and deliver on the mandate of the people,” he said on the campaign trail. Potential liability Conservative strategists considered Johnson’s personal popularity and proven ability to reach across party lines a key election asset. The charismatic politician helped lead the successful Brexit campaign in the 2016 referendum and is the only Conservative to have been London mayor. By contrast, recent polls have ranked Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn the least popular opposition leader in decades. But Johnson’s team were also aware the prime minister, known for his often-colourful turn of phrase and a tendency to go off-script, was a potential liability. On the campaign trail, his team sought to minimise the risk of unflattering encounters with members of the public and with some television interviewers, according to a campaign source. Many of his interactions with voters were in Conservative-held seats, while in traditional Labour districts the prime minister often visited businesses with sympathetic bosses or organised rallies in venues where attendees could be screened. In the final days of the campaign, Johnson crisscrossed districts in the north and central England, regions where Labour has traditionally had strong support. At a factory of British construction equipment maker JCB near Uttoxeter in central England on Tuesday, Johnson drove a digger emblazoned with “get Brexit done” through a makeshift wall emblazoned with the word “GRIDLOCK.”

How Boris Johnson's election gamble paid off

Boris Johnson has won the prime ministership of the UK again and now he has the mandate to move very swiftly to remove the UK from the EU, he will have great authority in negotiating new trade deals. Brexit will now finally 'get done' as Johnson has the majority.

UK Elections 2019: Boris Johnson wins, now onto Brexit

How the mighty fell: Biggest upsets in the UK election

Brisk Polling In United Kingdom's Most Important Elections In A Generation. #WION #Gravitas #UKElections2019

Gravitas: United Kingdom: Make or break election

In the last four years this is the third election in UK. Who will be the next Prime Minister of UK.

U.K: Three election in four years all for Brexit

On Thursday, Britons will vote for what will be the third <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/with-brexit-and-economy-at-stake-britain-braces-for-third-election-in-four-years-267352">general election </a>in less than five years. Britain Prime Minister Boris Johnson describes the polls as the most important in a generation.&nbsp;

So, as the UK heads to polls, let's look at how the last three elections played out.&nbsp;

2010 election: Coalition government

Ahead of the global financial crisis in 2007, Labour's Gordon Brown took over from Tony Blair and became the prime minister of the country in 2007.

In the 2010 election, televised debates of leaders took place for the first time. The support for Liberal Democrats rose after Clegg's performance in the debate.&nbsp;

The trends showed that the support for the centre-left Labour declined as voters turned to David Cameron's Conservatives and Nick Clegg's centrist Liberal Democrats.

However, when the results were announced, Britain witnessed hung parliament, the second since World War II. The Conservatives won 306 seats and Liberal Democrat ended with 57 seats. The hung parliament is rare in Britain as they follow the first-past-the-post system. &nbsp;

Immediately after the results, Cameron reached out to the Liberal Democrats. Brown remained in the office during the coalition talks, hoping to persuade Clegg to shake hands with Labour.&nbsp;

However, Cameron became the prime minister of Britain as Conservatives and Liberal Democrats formed an alliance.

2015: Suprise victory for Cameron

Cameron pledged in 2015 that if he will get another term, a referendum will be held to decide Britain's membership in the European Union.&nbsp;

The poll pundits predicted another hung parliament, however, when results were declared, Conservatives pulled off a slender victory and improved its 2010 tally with 330 seats. The results meant that Conservatives can form the government on their own.&nbsp;

The elections saw the worst tally for Liberal Democrats since their formation in 1988, winning only eight seats. The Scottish National Party (SNP) gained big as it won 56 out of the 59 seats in Scotland.

The vote share of Labour improved but, still, they lost more seats as compared to 2010.

2017: Theresa May's gamble fails

After the Brexit referendum, Theresa May became the prime minister of the UK. May feared that in order to pass Brexit a small majority might not be enough and therefore she called a snap election.

However, the gamble did not pay off and the Conservatives lost 13 seats to end up with 307. The results meant that a Conservative minority government came to power after getting support from Northern Ireland's Democratic Unionists (DUP).

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn's energetic campaign and May's wooden performances were the reasons behind the decline of the Conservatives.&nbsp;

In this election, voters once again entrusted the main parties as the Conservatives won 42 per cent and Labour 40 per cent of votes.&nbsp;

May failed to get the Brexit done and was replaced by Boris Johnson after she quit in July 2019.&nbsp;

(with inputs from AFP)

On Thursday, Britons will vote for what will be the third general election in less than five years. Britain Prime Minister Boris Johnson describes the polls as the most important in a generation.

On Thursday, Britons will vote for what will be the third general election in less than five years. Britain Prime Minister Boris Johnson describes the polls as the most important in a generation. So, as the UK heads to polls, let's look at how the last three elections played out. 2010 election: Coalition government Ahead of the global financial crisis in 2007, Labour's Gordon Brown took over from Tony Blair and became the prime minister of the country in 2007. In the 2010 election, televised debates of leaders took place for the first time. The support for Liberal Democrats rose after Clegg's performance in the debate. The trends showed that the support for the centre-left Labour declined as voters turned to David Cameron's Conservatives and Nick Clegg's centrist Liberal Democrats. However, when the results were announced, Britain witnessed hung parliament, the second since World War II. The Conservatives won 306 seats and Liberal Democrat ended with 57 seats. The hung parliament is rare in Britain as they follow the first-past-the-post system. Immediately after the results, Cameron reached out to the Liberal Democrats. Brown remained in the office during the coalition talks, hoping to persuade Clegg to shake hands with Labour. However, Cameron became the prime minister of Britain as Conservatives and Liberal Democrats formed an alliance. 2015: Suprise victory for Cameron Cameron pledged in 2015 that if he will get another term, a referendum will be held to decide Britain's membership in the European Union. The poll pundits predicted another hung parliament, however, when results were declared, Conservatives pulled off a slender victory and improved its 2010 tally with 330 seats. The results meant that Conservatives can form the government on their own. The elections saw the worst tally for Liberal Democrats since their formation in 1988, winning only eight seats. The Scottish National Party (SNP) gained big as it won 56 out of the 59 seats in Scotland. The vote share of Labour improved but, still, they lost more seats as compared to 2010. 2017: Theresa May's gamble fails After the Brexit referendum, Theresa May became the prime minister of the UK. May feared that in order to pass Brexit a small majority might not be enough and therefore she called a snap election. However, the gamble did not pay off and the Conservatives lost 13 seats to end up with 307. The results meant that a Conservative minority government came to power after getting support from Northern Ireland's Democratic Unionists (DUP). Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn's energetic campaign and May's wooden performances were the reasons behind the decline of the Conservatives. In this election, voters once again entrusted the main parties as the Conservatives won 42 per cent and Labour 40 per cent of votes. May failed to get the Brexit done and was replaced by Boris Johnson after she quit in July 2019. (with inputs from AFP)

As Britain heads to polls, a glance at last three elections

Voters go to the polls on Thursday in an election that will pave the way for Brexit under Prime Minister <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/with-conservatives-leading-polls-britain-heads-to-landmark-winter-election-to-determine-its-road-ahead-267785">Boris Johnson</a> or propel Britain towards another referendum that could ultimately reverse the decision to leave the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/british-general-election-a-look-at-possible-outcomes-of-the-uk-vote-267764">European Union</a>.

After failing to deliver Brexit by an October&nbsp;31 deadline, Johnson called the December&nbsp;12 election to break what he cast as political paralysis that had thwarted Britain's departure and sapped confidence in the economy.

The face of the "Leave" campaign in the 2016 referendum, 55-year-old Johnson fought the election under the slogan of "Get Brexit Done", promising to end the deadlock and spend more on health, education and the police.

His main opponent, Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, 70, promised higher public spending, nationalisation of key services, taxes on the wealthy and another referendum on Brexit.

All major opinion polls suggest Johnson will win, though pollsters got the 2016 referendum wrong and their models predict outcomes ranging from a hung parliament to the biggest Conservative landslide since the era of Margaret Thatcher.

"We could have a Conservative majority government which will get <a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/uk-three-election-in-four-years-all-for-brexit-267773">Brexit</a> done and unleash Britain’s potential," Johnson told campaigners. "This election is our chance to end the gridlock but the result is on a knife-edge."

Corbyn said the Conservatives were the party of "billionaires" while Labour represented the many.

"You can vote for despair and vote for the dishonesty of this government, or you can vote Labour and get a government that can bring hope to the future," he said.

Polls open at 0700 GMT and close at 2200 GMT when an exit poll will give the first indications of the result. Official results from the bulk of United Kingdom's 650 different constituencies begin to come in from 2300 GMT to 0500 GMT.

While Brexit framed the United Kingdom's first December election since 1923, the tortuous exit from the EU has variously fatigued, enthused and enraged voters while eroding loyalties to the two major parties.

A majority would allow Johnson to lead the country out of the club it first joined in 1973, but Brexit would still be far from over. He faces the daunting task of negotiating a trade agreement with the EU in a self-imposed deadline of 11 months.

After January&nbsp;31, Britain would enter a transition period during which it would negotiate a new relationship with the EU27. He has pledged to do that by the end of 2020.

Sterling markets are pricing in a Johnson win. But a five-year flurry of two historic referendums&nbsp;on Scottish independence in 2014 and Brexit in 2016 and two national elections in 2015 and 2017 have delivered often unexpected results that ushered in political crises.

The election pitches two of the most unconventional British politicians of recent years against each other. Both have been repeatedly written off by opponents and both offer starkly different visions for the world's fifth-largest economy.

Johnson's pitch is Brexit but he shrank from anything more radical in a heavily choreographed campaign. Corbyn pitched what he calls a radical transformation for a country long wedded to free-market liberalism.

Johnson, the New York-born former mayor of London, won the top job in July. His predecessor, Theresa May, resigned after failing to get parliamentary backing for her Brexit deal with the EU and then losing her party's majority in a snap election.

Johnson defied critics by striking a new deal with the EU but was unable to navigate the maze of a divided British parliament and was defeated by opponents whom he portrayed as traitors subverting the will of the people.

The United Kingdom voted by 52 per cent -48&nbsp;per cent in 2016 to quit the EU. But parliament has been deadlocked since May's failed bet on a 2017 snap election over how, when and even whether to leave.

Corbyn, once an opponent of the EU who now says he would remain neutral if he was a prime minister overseeing another referendum, was repeatedly grilled over his Brexit plans. He pledged to overthrow a "rigged system" he said was run by billionaires and tax dodgers.

Both made missteps during the campaign.

Johnson in one interview refused to look at a picture of a sick four-year-old boy forced to lie on the floor of a hospital and then inexplicably took the phone from a reporter and pocketed it. He later apologised.

Corbyn, a veteran campaigner for Palestinian rights, repeatedly avoided apologising for what some party members, lawmakers and Jewish leaders say is his failure to tackle anti-Semitism from some elements within the party. He apologised eventually.

Johnson's strategy was to breach Labour's so-called "Red Wall" of seats across the Brexit-supporting areas of the Midlands and northern England where he described his political opponents as the out-of-touch enemies of Brexit.

"If I’m honest with you, there’s no choice," said voter Andrew Davis, from Kent in southern England. "I don’t like any of the main candidates, so I’m struggling."

&nbsp;

Voters go to the polls on Thursday in an election that will pave the way for Brexit under Prime Minister Boris Johnson or propel Britain towards another referendum that could ultimately reverse the decision to leave the European Union.

Voters go to the polls on Thursday in an election that will pave the way for Brexit under Prime Minister Boris Johnson or propel Britain towards another referendum that could ultimately reverse the decision to leave the European Union. After failing to deliver Brexit by an October 31 deadline, Johnson called the December 12 election to break what he cast as political paralysis that had thwarted Britain's departure and sapped confidence in the economy. The face of the "Leave" campaign in the 2016 referendum, 55-year-old Johnson fought the election under the slogan of "Get Brexit Done", promising to end the deadlock and spend more on health, education and the police. His main opponent, Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, 70, promised higher public spending, nationalisation of key services, taxes on the wealthy and another referendum on Brexit. All major opinion polls suggest Johnson will win, though pollsters got the 2016 referendum wrong and their models predict outcomes ranging from a hung parliament to the biggest Conservative landslide since the era of Margaret Thatcher. "We could have a Conservative majority government which will get Brexit done and unleash Britain’s potential," Johnson told campaigners. "This election is our chance to end the gridlock but the result is on a knife-edge." Corbyn said the Conservatives were the party of "billionaires" while Labour represented the many. "You can vote for despair and vote for the dishonesty of this government, or you can vote Labour and get a government that can bring hope to the future," he said. Polls open at 0700 GMT and close at 2200 GMT when an exit poll will give the first indications of the result. Official results from the bulk of United Kingdom's 650 different constituencies begin to come in from 2300 GMT to 0500 GMT. While Brexit framed the United Kingdom's first December election since 1923, the tortuous exit from the EU has variously fatigued, enthused and enraged voters while eroding loyalties to the two major parties. A majority would allow Johnson to lead the country out of the club it first joined in 1973, but Brexit would still be far from over. He faces the daunting task of negotiating a trade agreement with the EU in a self-imposed deadline of 11 months. After January 31, Britain would enter a transition period during which it would negotiate a new relationship with the EU27. He has pledged to do that by the end of 2020. Sterling markets are pricing in a Johnson win. But a five-year flurry of two historic referendums on Scottish independence in 2014 and Brexit in 2016 and two national elections in 2015 and 2017 have delivered often unexpected results that ushered in political crises. The election pitches two of the most unconventional British politicians of recent years against each other. Both have been repeatedly written off by opponents and both offer starkly different visions for the world's fifth-largest economy. Johnson's pitch is Brexit but he shrank from anything more radical in a heavily choreographed campaign. Corbyn pitched what he calls a radical transformation for a country long wedded to free-market liberalism. Johnson, the New York-born former mayor of London, won the top job in July. His predecessor, Theresa May, resigned after failing to get parliamentary backing for her Brexit deal with the EU and then losing her party's majority in a snap election. Johnson defied critics by striking a new deal with the EU but was unable to navigate the maze of a divided British parliament and was defeated by opponents whom he portrayed as traitors subverting the will of the people. The United Kingdom voted by 52 per cent -48 per cent in 2016 to quit the EU. But parliament has been deadlocked since May's failed bet on a 2017 snap election over how, when and even whether to leave. Corbyn, once an opponent of the EU who now says he would remain neutral if he was a prime minister overseeing another referendum, was repeatedly grilled over his Brexit plans. He pledged to overthrow a "rigged system" he said was run by billionaires and tax dodgers. Both made missteps during the campaign. Johnson in one interview refused to look at a picture of a sick four-year-old boy forced to lie on the floor of a hospital and then inexplicably took the phone from a reporter and pocketed it. He later apologised. Corbyn, a veteran campaigner for Palestinian rights, repeatedly avoided apologising for what some party members, lawmakers and Jewish leaders say is his failure to tackle anti-Semitism from some elements within the party. He apologised eventually. Johnson's strategy was to breach Labour's so-called "Red Wall" of seats across the Brexit-supporting areas of the Midlands and northern England where he described his political opponents as the out-of-touch enemies of Brexit. "If I’m honest with you, there’s no choice," said voter Andrew Davis, from Kent in southern England. "I don’t like any of the main candidates, so I’m struggling."

United Kingdom votes to decide the fate of Brexit, again

Just before 24 hours left before Britain's goes back to the ballot boxes to pick its Prime Minister. UK elections are supposed to be held every five years but elections for 2019, is a third since 2015. watch this report to know more:

UK Elections 2019: Will Johnson's Brexit Gamble pay off?

The United Kingdom will vote in its third election in four years on Thursday. Who will be the next Prime Minister. Will this election settle the chaos over Brexit?

Gravitas: The UK Election: Who will be the next Prime Minister

Election campaign of UK election 2019 enters its final day. #WION #UKElection2019 #Fineprint

Fineprint: Election campaign enters its final day | UK election 2019

In the UK general elections and the fight to the finish between Boris Johnson and Jeremy Corbyn. The question is can Boris Johnson ride the Brexit wave back to 10 Downing street. The last round of campaigning is always the most hard and the United Kingdom is no exception. Boris Johnson was seen driving a bulldozer through a wall of foam bricks with 'Get Brexit Done' written on it. Watch video to know more.

UK Election 2019: Can 'bulldozing Boris' get Brexit done?

Britain is set to go back to the ballot boxes in three days, to pick its Prime Minister for the third time since 2015.

It's predicted to be one of the most volatile general elections in decades.

It is not just Brexit that is at stake, whoever gets the keys to Downing Street will radically influence the country's economy, public services and the road ahead. 
&nbsp; 
The people of Britain are set to elect 650 Members of Parliament into the House of Commons that is going to decide laws and policies for the country. While most of those contesting elections belong to a political party, some do stand as Independents.

Like India, the United Kingdom also holds general elections every five years but due to Brexit, three elections have already taken place in the last four years.

In the 2015 general elections, the National Health Service and immigration were the biggest concern for the voters. In 2019, however, these concerns have been overtaken by Britain's departure from the European Union - Brexit - as the prime concern for everyone. 
&nbsp; 
The purpose of these Christmas elections is to break the Brexit deadlock in parliament, but it is a huge gamble for Prime Minister of Britain and leader of the Conservative Party, Boris Johnson.

Politicians remain divided on the issue with some demanding the UK to leave the EU as soon as possible, some demanding another referendum, and others to cancel Brexit altogether.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson does not currently have enough MPs to easily pass new laws, he hopes an early election will increase the number of Conservative MPs, making his Brexit plans easier to achieve.

If the UK Prime Minister fails, pro-remain parties will try to stop Brexit altogether.

The Labour Party wants to renegotiate Johnson's Brexit deal and put it to another referendum.

The Liberal Democrats under the leadership of Jo Swinson have pledged to cancel Brexit if they are voted to power at the general elections.

The Scottish National Party, Welsh Party plaid CYMRU and the Greens are all in favour of a second referendum.

Britain is to start voting between 7:00 am and 10:00 pm on December 12. The results are to declared through the night and the following day.

Once the final result is announced, the leader of the winning party visits Buckingham Palace to ask the Queen for permission to form a new government after which they might stand outside to deliver a speech about their party's plans for the coming term.&nbsp;

Britain is set to go back to the ballot boxes in three days, to pick its Prime Minister for the third time since 2015. It's predicted to be one of the most volatile general elections in decades.

Britain is set to go back to the ballot boxes in three days, to pick its Prime Minister for the third time since 2015. It's predicted to be one of the most volatile general elections in decades. It is not just Brexit that is at stake, whoever gets the keys to Downing Street will radically influence the country's economy, public services and the road ahead. The people of Britain are set to elect 650 Members of Parliament into the House of Commons that is going to decide laws and policies for the country. While most of those contesting elections belong to a political party, some do stand as Independents. Like India, the United Kingdom also holds general elections every five years but due to Brexit, three elections have already taken place in the last four years. In the 2015 general elections, the National Health Service and immigration were the biggest concern for the voters. In 2019, however, these concerns have been overtaken by Britain's departure from the European Union - Brexit - as the prime concern for everyone. The purpose of these Christmas elections is to break the Brexit deadlock in parliament, but it is a huge gamble for Prime Minister of Britain and leader of the Conservative Party, Boris Johnson. Politicians remain divided on the issue with some demanding the UK to leave the EU as soon as possible, some demanding another referendum, and others to cancel Brexit altogether. Prime Minister Boris Johnson does not currently have enough MPs to easily pass new laws, he hopes an early election will increase the number of Conservative MPs, making his Brexit plans easier to achieve. If the UK Prime Minister fails, pro-remain parties will try to stop Brexit altogether. The Labour Party wants to renegotiate Johnson's Brexit deal and put it to another referendum. The Liberal Democrats under the leadership of Jo Swinson have pledged to cancel Brexit if they are voted to power at the general elections. The Scottish National Party, Welsh Party plaid CYMRU and the Greens are all in favour of a second referendum. Britain is to start voting between 7:00 am and 10:00 pm on December 12. The results are to declared through the night and the following day. Once the final result is announced, the leader of the winning party visits Buckingham Palace to ask the Queen for permission to form a new government after which they might stand outside to deliver a speech about their party's plans for the coming term.

With Brexit and economy at stake, Britain braces for third election in four years

WION Correspondent, Olly Barratt speaks on UK Elections 2019.

UK Elections 2019: Olly Barratt assessment on major issues for UK Elections

The UK election comes against the background of one of the worst periods in Russian-British relations since the end of the Cold War. Badly shaken by the 2006 poisoning of the former Russian spy Alexander Litvinenko in London, relations spiralled further down in the aftermath of Russia’s annexation of Crimea in 2014. The poisoning of another former spy, Sergei Skripal, in March 2018 in Salisbury then killed off any hopes of a recovery in bilateral relations.

Throw in the British government’s failure to publish an intelligence report by MPs on Russia’s alleged involvement in British politics before the election, and the poll is shaping up to be a pivotal moment for Russia’s relations with the UK.

But what result does Russia want from the 2019 elections, and why?

I have researched Russia and its relations with the wider world, and the Russian government sees the UK as one of the more hawkish of EU states on Russia. The UK has been a strong supporter of tough sanctions on Russia for its behaviour in Ukraine, and it opposed Moscow’s involvement in Syria.

In 2018, the UK led the largest ever expulsion of Russian diplomats by Western countries, much to the ire of the Kremlin. Moscow’s foreign minister, Sergei Lavrov, even complained in 2018 that: “The country, which is leaving the European Union, is determining the EU policy on Russia.”

The UK is often allied with the so-called “anti-Russian fringe” of former Soviet bloc states. Chief among these are Poland and the three Baltic states, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, which are seen in Moscow, in Lavrov’s words, as the: “Main activists in NATO and the European Union, which are going all out to impose unbridled Russophobia.”

This Russian suspicion of Britain is reinforced by its “special relationship” with the US, with the British hardline stance towards Russia often perceived by Moscow as a proxy for American views in the EU.

Add to this London’s status as a safe haven for Putin’s critics fleeing Russia, who are in their turn targeted by the Russian security forces, to see why UK-Russian relations are in a “deep freeze”.

It’s all about EU 
 
Although Russian diplomats and officials are always careful to stress that Brexit is an internal matter for the UK, the logic of international relations as seen from Moscow shows that a loss of British influence over the EU will be beneficial to Russia. In that sense, a victory for the Conservative party, which is committed to removing Britain from the EU, should be welcomed by Russia.

Removing Britain from the EU kills two birds with one stone for Russia. It diminishes the UK’s influence in Russia’s largest neighbour and trading partner, and through it reduces US influence. Without Britain, the EU will be less powerful, too. Pitching the EU and the US against each in their approaches to Russia, especially over economic sanctions, has long been a target of Russian foreign policy.

Russia might even use its membership of the World Trade Organization as leverage over the UK, particularly if British negotiators fail to reach a deal on their future relationship with the EU by the end of the agreed transition period. The Russians have good, detailed knowledge of difficulties involved in Brexit, including how many British cows cross the Irish border for milking every day.

Russia’s dislike of the EU has two strands. One is a practical realpolitik calculation. Russia has always been more comfortable dealing with individual states, than with an organisation like the EU. The other level is ideological. Russia has long been a champion of nationalist right-wing political forces across Europe, from Marie Le Pen’s National Rally in France to Matteo Salvini’s The League in Italy. In the UK, key pro-Brexit donor Aaron Banks maintained close contact with the Russian ambassador in the UK around the time of the 2016 EU referendum.

Conservatives v Labour

The Conservatives could have plausibly campaigned to be tougher on Russia – something hinted at in their manifesto.

Yet there is substantial evidence of Conservative exposure to Russian money and connections going back years. The Conservative party has been the largest recipient of money from Russian donors, more than £3.5 million since 2010, according to an investigation by Open Democracy. Despite bad publicity, the Conservatives refused to return Russian-linked money even in the aftermath of the Skripal poisoning in March 2018.

Were it not for Brexit, Russia might favour a Labour party in Corbyn’s mould given his sceptical views on Nato, nuclear deterrent, or the UK relations with the US. Some of his past comments, for example, on the causes of the Ukraine crisis, or the disastrous consequences of Western interventions in Iraq, Libya or Afghanistan, chime with Russia’s foreign policy attitudes.

Still, it remains an open question how much Corbyn could change the fundamentals of British foreign policy. Labour’s 2019 manifesto confirms, for example, its commitment to Nato defence spending at 2% of GDP and the renewal of the Trident nuclear deterrent.

Yet on the fundamental issue of Brexit, it’s the Conservatives who are more in tune with Russia’s long-term foreign policy objectives than Labour, which is campaigning for a second referendum. Fundamentally, “getting Brexit done” is something that Russian foreign policy would stand most to gain from.

(Alexander Titov is Lecturer in Modern European History, Queen's University Belfast)

(This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/what-would-russia-prefer-to-happen-in-the-uk-election-127074">original article</a>)

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)&nbsp;

The UK election comes against the background of one of the worst periods in Russian-British relations since the end of the Cold War. Badly shaken by the 2006 poisoning of the former Russian spy Alexander Litvinenko in London, relations spiralled further down in the aftermath of Russia’s annexation of Crimea in 2014.

The UK election comes against the background of one of the worst periods in Russian-British relations since the end of the Cold War. Badly shaken by the 2006 poisoning of the former Russian spy Alexander Litvinenko in London, relations spiralled further down in the aftermath of Russia’s annexation of Crimea in 2014. The poisoning of another former spy, Sergei Skripal, in March 2018 in Salisbury then killed off any hopes of a recovery in bilateral relations. Throw in the British government’s failure to publish an intelligence report by MPs on Russia’s alleged involvement in British politics before the election, and the poll is shaping up to be a pivotal moment for Russia’s relations with the UK. But what result does Russia want from the 2019 elections, and why? I have researched Russia and its relations with the wider world, and the Russian government sees the UK as one of the more hawkish of EU states on Russia. The UK has been a strong supporter of tough sanctions on Russia for its behaviour in Ukraine, and it opposed Moscow’s involvement in Syria. In 2018, the UK led the largest ever expulsion of Russian diplomats by Western countries, much to the ire of the Kremlin. Moscow’s foreign minister, Sergei Lavrov, even complained in 2018 that: “The country, which is leaving the European Union, is determining the EU policy on Russia.” The UK is often allied with the so-called “anti-Russian fringe” of former Soviet bloc states. Chief among these are Poland and the three Baltic states, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, which are seen in Moscow, in Lavrov’s words, as the: “Main activists in NATO and the European Union, which are going all out to impose unbridled Russophobia.” This Russian suspicion of Britain is reinforced by its “special relationship” with the US, with the British hardline stance towards Russia often perceived by Moscow as a proxy for American views in the EU. Add to this London’s status as a safe haven for Putin’s critics fleeing Russia, who are in their turn targeted by the Russian security forces, to see why UK-Russian relations are in a “deep freeze”. It’s all about EU Although Russian diplomats and officials are always careful to stress that Brexit is an internal matter for the UK, the logic of international relations as seen from Moscow shows that a loss of British influence over the EU will be beneficial to Russia. In that sense, a victory for the Conservative party, which is committed to removing Britain from the EU, should be welcomed by Russia. Removing Britain from the EU kills two birds with one stone for Russia. It diminishes the UK’s influence in Russia’s largest neighbour and trading partner, and through it reduces US influence. Without Britain, the EU will be less powerful, too. Pitching the EU and the US against each in their approaches to Russia, especially over economic sanctions, has long been a target of Russian foreign policy. Russia might even use its membership of the World Trade Organization as leverage over the UK, particularly if British negotiators fail to reach a deal on their future relationship with the EU by the end of the agreed transition period. The Russians have good, detailed knowledge of difficulties involved in Brexit, including how many British cows cross the Irish border for milking every day. Russia’s dislike of the EU has two strands. One is a practical realpolitik calculation. Russia has always been more comfortable dealing with individual states, than with an organisation like the EU. The other level is ideological. Russia has long been a champion of nationalist right-wing political forces across Europe, from Marie Le Pen’s National Rally in France to Matteo Salvini’s The League in Italy. In the UK, key pro-Brexit donor Aaron Banks maintained close contact with the Russian ambassador in the UK around the time of the 2016 EU referendum. Conservatives v Labour The Conservatives could have plausibly campaigned to be tougher on Russia – something hinted at in their manifesto. Yet there is substantial evidence of Conservative exposure to Russian money and connections going back years. The Conservative party has been the largest recipient of money from Russian donors, more than £3.5 million since 2010, according to an investigation by Open Democracy. Despite bad publicity, the Conservatives refused to return Russian-linked money even in the aftermath of the Skripal poisoning in March 2018. Were it not for Brexit, Russia might favour a Labour party in Corbyn’s mould given his sceptical views on Nato, nuclear deterrent, or the UK relations with the US. Some of his past comments, for example, on the causes of the Ukraine crisis, or the disastrous consequences of Western interventions in Iraq, Libya or Afghanistan, chime with Russia’s foreign policy attitudes. Still, it remains an open question how much Corbyn could change the fundamentals of British foreign policy. Labour’s 2019 manifesto confirms, for example, its commitment to Nato defence spending at 2% of GDP and the renewal of the Trident nuclear deterrent. Yet on the fundamental issue of Brexit, it’s the Conservatives who are more in tune with Russia’s long-term foreign policy objectives than Labour, which is campaigning for a second referendum. Fundamentally, “getting Brexit done” is something that Russian foreign policy would stand most to gain from. (Alexander Titov is Lecturer in Modern European History, Queen's University Belfast) (This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article) (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

What would Russia prefer to happen in the UK election?

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/uk-pm-boris-johnson-admits-his-naughtiest-sin-266969">British Prime Minister Boris Johnson</a> said on Sunday that the impact of <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/uk-pm-boris-johnson-promises-lower-immigration-if-he-wins-election-266941">Thursday's general election</a> would be "felt for decades" as campaigning entered the final stages.

The prime minister is hoping to regain the majority that his Conservative Party lost in 2019, with a slew of polls released on Saturday suggesting he was narrowly on course to achieve his goal.

The stakes could barely be higher, with the fate of Brexit still to be settled.

"We're fighting for every vote and... this is a critical moment for this country, the choice on Thursday is unbelievably stark," he told Sky News.&nbsp;

He compared the election to other "historic elections" such as 1906, 1945 and 1979.&nbsp;

"The impact of this election will be felt for decades to come," he wrote in an open letter.&nbsp;

A Conservative majority would almost certainly cement Britain's departure from the European Union, but any other result could lead to a second referendum and the 2016 result being overturned.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/hugh-grant-is-convincing-voters-in-uk-to-not-vote-for-boris-johnson-266017">The prime minister</a> faced scrutiny over promises there would be no checks on goods moving between Northern Ireland and mainland Britain as part of his Brexit deal with Brussels.

"There's no question of there being checks," he told Sky, adding "why would we put checks on goods going from NI to GB or GB to NI? It doesn't make sense."

His claims appear to contradict a leaked government document revealed by Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn this week, which suggested that businesses would need to fill in paperwork when moving goods across the Irish Sea.

Corbyn is banking on a late surge, as he achieved in 2017, to prevent Johnson from winning a majority.

'Bear down on migration'

But polls released on Saturday showed the Conservatives with an average lead of 10 per cent.

Pollsters believe that Johnson needs to be more than six points clear of Labour on Thursday to secure a majority.

The prime minister announced Sunday that he would introduce an "Australian-style" points based immigration system if elected, signalling a tightening of low-skilled immigration.

"I've said that what we want to do is bear down on a migration, particularly of unskilled workers who have no job to come to," he said.

"You've got to have a system by which party politicians can say to people, 'well, yes, we are letting people in but we're doing it in a way that is controlled'."

Exit polls from Thursday's vote will be released at 2000 GMT, but the final result will not be confirmed until Friday.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Sunday that the impact of Thursday's general election would be "felt for decades" as campaigning entered the final stages.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Sunday that the impact of Thursday's general election would be "felt for decades" as campaigning entered the final stages. The prime minister is hoping to regain the majority that his Conservative Party lost in 2019, with a slew of polls released on Saturday suggesting he was narrowly on course to achieve his goal. The stakes could barely be higher, with the fate of Brexit still to be settled. "We're fighting for every vote and... this is a critical moment for this country, the choice on Thursday is unbelievably stark," he told Sky News. He compared the election to other "historic elections" such as 1906, 1945 and 1979. "The impact of this election will be felt for decades to come," he wrote in an open letter. A Conservative majority would almost certainly cement Britain's departure from the European Union, but any other result could lead to a second referendum and the 2016 result being overturned. The prime minister faced scrutiny over promises there would be no checks on goods moving between Northern Ireland and mainland Britain as part of his Brexit deal with Brussels. "There's no question of there being checks," he told Sky, adding "why would we put checks on goods going from NI to GB or GB to NI? It doesn't make sense." His claims appear to contradict a leaked government document revealed by Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn this week, which suggested that businesses would need to fill in paperwork when moving goods across the Irish Sea. Corbyn is banking on a late surge, as he achieved in 2017, to prevent Johnson from winning a majority. 'Bear down on migration' But polls released on Saturday showed the Conservatives with an average lead of 10 per cent. Pollsters believe that Johnson needs to be more than six points clear of Labour on Thursday to secure a majority. The prime minister announced Sunday that he would introduce an "Australian-style" points based immigration system if elected, signalling a tightening of low-skilled immigration. "I've said that what we want to do is bear down on a migration, particularly of unskilled workers who have no job to come to," he said. "You've got to have a system by which party politicians can say to people, 'well, yes, we are letting people in but we're doing it in a way that is controlled'." Exit polls from Thursday's vote will be released at 2000 GMT, but the final result will not be confirmed until Friday.

Impact of UK polls to be 'felt for decades': PM Boris Johnson

British Prime Minister <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/uk-pm-boris-johnson-promises-lower-immigration-if-he-wins-election-266941">Boris Johnson </a>said on Sunday that the naughtiest thing he was prepared to admit to was breaking the law by cycling on the pavement.

When asked by Sky what the naughtiest thing he was ready to admit to was, Johnson initially asked advisers for suggestions before saying: "I think, I, you know, I may sometimes, when I was riding a bicycle every day, which I used to do, I may sometimes have not always have obeyed the law about cycling on the pavement."

"I want you know how firmly and how strongly I disapprove of people who cycle on the pavement and I think it is wrong and I feel bad about it. But I might sometimes have scooted up onto the pavement rather than dismounting before."

Asked if he was nervous about narrowing polls, Johnson said: "Of course, we are fighting for every vote. I think that this is a critical moment for this country."

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Sunday that the naughtiest thing he was prepared to admit to was breaking the law by cycling on the pavement. When asked by Sky what the naughtiest thing he was ready to admit to was, Johnson initially asked advisers for suggestions before saying: "I think, I, you know, I may sometimes, when I was riding a bicycle every day, which I used to do, I may sometimes have not always have obeyed the law about cycling on the pavement.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Sunday that the naughtiest thing he was prepared to admit to was breaking the law by cycling on the pavement. When asked by Sky what the naughtiest thing he was ready to admit to was, Johnson initially asked advisers for suggestions before saying: "I think, I, you know, I may sometimes, when I was riding a bicycle every day, which I used to do, I may sometimes have not always have obeyed the law about cycling on the pavement." "I want you know how firmly and how strongly I disapprove of people who cycle on the pavement and I think it is wrong and I feel bad about it. But I might sometimes have scooted up onto the pavement rather than dismounting before." Asked if he was nervous about narrowing polls, Johnson said: "Of course, we are fighting for every vote. I think that this is a critical moment for this country."

UK PM Boris Johnson admits his 'naughtiest sin'

British Prime Minister <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/knife-edge-uks-johnson-ahead-but-polls-suggest-majority-might-be-tough-266912">Boris Johnson </a>promised lower immigration if he wins power in an election on Thursday, but said he was not hostile to allowing foreigners to work and live in Britain overall.

Britain votes on Dec. 12 in an election which will decide the fate of <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/johnson-corbyn-wage-brexit-battle-in-final-debate-before-uk-election-266751">Brexit </a>and the world's fifth-largest economy with a stark choice between Johnson's pro-market Conservatives and the socialist-led opposition Labour Party.

"Numbers will come down because we'll be able to control the system in that way," Johnson told Sky News. "And what I don't think is right is to have an uncontrolled and unlimited approach to that."

Johnson has promised a points-based approach to controlling immigration. He said his focus would be cutting down on unskilled migration, but that there would be scope for high skilled and other workers to come to Britain.

"I'm not hostile to immigration ... I'm a believer in allowing people to come to this country and I think if they have talents and they want to do things and make their lives in the UK and they can contribute to our country - fantastic."

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson promised lower immigration if he wins power in an election on Thursday, but said he was not hostile to allowing foreigners to work and live in Britain overall.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson promised lower immigration if he wins power in an election on Thursday, but said he was not hostile to allowing foreigners to work and live in Britain overall. Britain votes on Dec. 12 in an election which will decide the fate of Brexit and the world's fifth-largest economy with a stark choice between Johnson's pro-market Conservatives and the socialist-led opposition Labour Party. "Numbers will come down because we'll be able to control the system in that way," Johnson told Sky News. "And what I don't think is right is to have an uncontrolled and unlimited approach to that." Johnson has promised a points-based approach to controlling immigration. He said his focus would be cutting down on unskilled migration, but that there would be scope for high skilled and other workers to come to Britain. "I'm not hostile to immigration ... I'm a believer in allowing people to come to this country and I think if they have talents and they want to do things and make their lives in the UK and they can contribute to our country - fantastic."

UK PM Boris Johnson promises lower immigration if he wins election

By Martin Farr

Foreign affairs rarely play a role in British elections. The exception, of course, is Europe: both Labour in 1974 and the Conservatives in 2015 won a narrow parliamentary majority after promising a referendum on UK membership.

For reasons of practicality and protocol, elections are usually scheduled to avoid summits, or the visits of foreign leaders. But nothing is normal any more and 2019’s rushed general election features the first visit of a US president to Watford, an unprepossessing commuter town north of London. Donald Trump flew into the UK on December 2 for a two-day visit to attend a meeting of NATO leaders marking the 70th anniversary of the alliance.

One of the many curiosities of our age is that this most unpopular US president for the British should come so often. Another is that Boris Johnson, a US-born, Atlanticist prime minister, earnestly wishes the leader of the free world was not in the UK. At the same time, Jeremy Corbyn, a very-far-from Atlanticist leader of the opposition, is delighted that he should be.

Using the special relationship 
 
The Foreign Office may be the second most prestigious office of state, but in elections, foreign secretaries or their shadows from the opposition seldom find themselves much called on. Defence has had an impact though, such as in 1983 and 1987 when Labour was portrayed as too pacifistic, and in 2005, when the party wished they had been so.

Those episodes revolved around the special relationship between the US and UK – and prime ministers have not been averse to the blandishments of presidents on pre-election visits to the US, such as Harold Macmillan in 1959, and David Cameron in 2015.

Presidents have been prepared to assist in other ways, as I’ve been examining in my research on the historical relationships between US presidents and British premiers. Ronald Reagan’s humiliation of Labour leader Neil Kinnock in 1987 calculatedly bolstered the then prime minister Margaret Thatcher. But there has never been a presidential visit during a general election before now.

Part of the appeal of the Leave campaign in the EU referendum was Britain going out into the world and making more of its historic ties with what Winston Churchill called “English-speaking peoples”. This overlooked the fact that every American president since Dwight Eisenhower in the 1950s has wanted Britain to lead in Europe because it enhanced US interests to have its closest ally at the centre of what became the world’s largest trading bloc. The exception, as ever, is President Trump.

The special relationship has weakened in the topsy-turvy political world since 2015 – the year Corbyn became Labour leader, Trump announced his presidential candidacy and the British parliament passed legislation to hold a referendum on EU membership. In April 2016 Barack Obama – the most popular recent American president for the British public – visited the UK at the invitation of the prime minister, David Cameron, to assist with the increasingly panicked Remain campaign.

At the personal request of Cameron, Obama told the world that in the event of Brexit, Britain would be at “the back of the queue” for a trade deal. His intervention backfired, reinforcing the Leave narrative of a remote and condescending elite – and Remain never recovered.

Always keen to present himself in opposition to Obama, Trump has pushed his own anti-establishment narrative, which extended to condemnation of transnational institutions including NATO and the EU. In offering the promise of a free trade agreement to the UK, Trump has presented himself as a champion of self-government and so of Brexit, responsibility for which he characteristically ascribed to himself.

As if that were not a sufficient transgression of diplomatic norms, Trump also suggested in 2016 that Brexit Party leader, Nigel Farage, should be appointed British ambassador to the US.

More seriously, his relationship with Johnson’s predecessor, Theresa May, was quite unlike that of any other president and prime minister, as I’ve examined in forthcoming research. Standing alongside May in 2018 and 2019, Trump embarrassed her, and breaking with any sense of protocol or propriety, also praised the person clearly positioning himself to replace her – who, shortly thereafter, did just that.

US presidents have attended NATO summits in the UK before – Jimmy Carter in 1977, George HW Bush in 1990, and Obama in 2014. But Trump’s attitudes towards NATO were originally the principal source of British consternation at his election.

It wasn’t known then that he wasn’t a man of settled policies. In three years he has moved from being NATO’s most prominent critic, to its staunchest defender in the face of criticism of the alliance by the French president, Emmanuel Macron.

A liability for Johnson

It would never have been necessary with any other president, but on this December visit Trump has done as requested – he has observed convention and said he would “stay out of the election”. Except that, insofar as he flagrantly contradicted something he said the last time he was in the UK in the express interest of the prime minister, he has not stayed out of British politics.

Significantly, the impact of Trump’s visit to the UK is on a domestic policy area that is, by contrast, always central to elections: the National Health Service. In a campaign characterised on all sides by millions of this, billions of that, and trillions of the other, Labour has persistently claimed there will be a US-imposed increase in the NHS drugs bill of £500m a week. NHS staff duly joined the now-traditional public protests that mark a Trump visit.

If Trump was ever an asset for Johnson, he’s now deemed a liability. The president sees something of himself in man he’s called “Britain Trump”, not least perhaps their at times disarming physical resemblance. But given British public attitudes to Trump, it’s prudent for Johnson to maintain distance during the last week of a tight election. Trump’s toxicity has the potential to poison Johnson’s hitherto effective campaign.

So after much speculation as to whether they would meet – itself extraordinary – Johnson and Trump did, but, equally extraordinarily, there were no photographs of the host and his guest at that meeting at Number 10 or at a Buckingham Palace reception. The two were eventually photographed together arriving at The Grove, the venue for the NATO leaders summit in Watford.

By contrast, Corbyn has wanted nothing more than the chance to be photographed challenging Trump on the NHS – though it emerged they did not meet at the palace. But not on NATO. On which they agree. A voter could be forgiven for being confused. 
 
(Martin Farr is Senior Lecturer in Modern and Contemporary British History, Newcastle University)

(This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/donald-trump-goes-to-watford-what-happens-when-us-presidents-enter-british-elections-127651">original article</a>)

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL) &nbsp; 
&nbsp;

By Martin Farr Foreign affairs rarely play a role in British elections. The exception, of course, is Europe: both Labour in 1974 and the Conservatives in 2015 won a narrow parliamentary majority after promising a referendum on UK membership.

By Martin Farr Foreign affairs rarely play a role in British elections. The exception, of course, is Europe: both Labour in 1974 and the Conservatives in 2015 won a narrow parliamentary majority after promising a referendum on UK membership. For reasons of practicality and protocol, elections are usually scheduled to avoid summits, or the visits of foreign leaders. But nothing is normal any more and 2019’s rushed general election features the first visit of a US president to Watford, an unprepossessing commuter town north of London. Donald Trump flew into the UK on December 2 for a two-day visit to attend a meeting of NATO leaders marking the 70th anniversary of the alliance. One of the many curiosities of our age is that this most unpopular US president for the British should come so often. Another is that Boris Johnson, a US-born, Atlanticist prime minister, earnestly wishes the leader of the free world was not in the UK. At the same time, Jeremy Corbyn, a very-far-from Atlanticist leader of the opposition, is delighted that he should be. Using the special relationship The Foreign Office may be the second most prestigious office of state, but in elections, foreign secretaries or their shadows from the opposition seldom find themselves much called on. Defence has had an impact though, such as in 1983 and 1987 when Labour was portrayed as too pacifistic, and in 2005, when the party wished they had been so. Those episodes revolved around the special relationship between the US and UK – and prime ministers have not been averse to the blandishments of presidents on pre-election visits to the US, such as Harold Macmillan in 1959, and David Cameron in 2015. Presidents have been prepared to assist in other ways, as I’ve been examining in my research on the historical relationships between US presidents and British premiers. Ronald Reagan’s humiliation of Labour leader Neil Kinnock in 1987 calculatedly bolstered the then prime minister Margaret Thatcher. But there has never been a presidential visit during a general election before now. Part of the appeal of the Leave campaign in the EU referendum was Britain going out into the world and making more of its historic ties with what Winston Churchill called “English-speaking peoples”. This overlooked the fact that every American president since Dwight Eisenhower in the 1950s has wanted Britain to lead in Europe because it enhanced US interests to have its closest ally at the centre of what became the world’s largest trading bloc. The exception, as ever, is President Trump. The special relationship has weakened in the topsy-turvy political world since 2015 – the year Corbyn became Labour leader, Trump announced his presidential candidacy and the British parliament passed legislation to hold a referendum on EU membership. In April 2016 Barack Obama – the most popular recent American president for the British public – visited the UK at the invitation of the prime minister, David Cameron, to assist with the increasingly panicked Remain campaign. At the personal request of Cameron, Obama told the world that in the event of Brexit, Britain would be at “the back of the queue” for a trade deal. His intervention backfired, reinforcing the Leave narrative of a remote and condescending elite – and Remain never recovered. Always keen to present himself in opposition to Obama, Trump has pushed his own anti-establishment narrative, which extended to condemnation of transnational institutions including NATO and the EU. In offering the promise of a free trade agreement to the UK, Trump has presented himself as a champion of self-government and so of Brexit, responsibility for which he characteristically ascribed to himself. As if that were not a sufficient transgression of diplomatic norms, Trump also suggested in 2016 that Brexit Party leader, Nigel Farage, should be appointed British ambassador to the US. More seriously, his relationship with Johnson’s predecessor, Theresa May, was quite unlike that of any other president and prime minister, as I’ve examined in forthcoming research. Standing alongside May in 2018 and 2019, Trump embarrassed her, and breaking with any sense of protocol or propriety, also praised the person clearly positioning himself to replace her – who, shortly thereafter, did just that. US presidents have attended NATO summits in the UK before – Jimmy Carter in 1977, George HW Bush in 1990, and Obama in 2014. But Trump’s attitudes towards NATO were originally the principal source of British consternation at his election. It wasn’t known then that he wasn’t a man of settled policies. In three years he has moved from being NATO’s most prominent critic, to its staunchest defender in the face of criticism of the alliance by the French president, Emmanuel Macron. A liability for Johnson It would never have been necessary with any other president, but on this December visit Trump has done as requested – he has observed convention and said he would “stay out of the election”. Except that, insofar as he flagrantly contradicted something he said the last time he was in the UK in the express interest of the prime minister, he has not stayed out of British politics. Significantly, the impact of Trump’s visit to the UK is on a domestic policy area that is, by contrast, always central to elections: the National Health Service. In a campaign characterised on all sides by millions of this, billions of that, and trillions of the other, Labour has persistently claimed there will be a US-imposed increase in the NHS drugs bill of £500m a week. NHS staff duly joined the now-traditional public protests that mark a Trump visit. If Trump was ever an asset for Johnson, he’s now deemed a liability. The president sees something of himself in man he’s called “Britain Trump”, not least perhaps their at times disarming physical resemblance. But given British public attitudes to Trump, it’s prudent for Johnson to maintain distance during the last week of a tight election. Trump’s toxicity has the potential to poison Johnson’s hitherto effective campaign. So after much speculation as to whether they would meet – itself extraordinary – Johnson and Trump did, but, equally extraordinarily, there were no photographs of the host and his guest at that meeting at Number 10 or at a Buckingham Palace reception. The two were eventually photographed together arriving at The Grove, the venue for the NATO leaders summit in Watford. By contrast, Corbyn has wanted nothing more than the chance to be photographed challenging Trump on the NHS – though it emerged they did not meet at the palace. But not on NATO. On which they agree. A voter could be forgiven for being confused. (Martin Farr is Senior Lecturer in Modern and Contemporary British History, Newcastle University) (This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article) (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

What happens when US presidents enter British elections

Actor Hugh Grant is going door-to-door in London to convince people to not vote for Conservative <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/boris-johnson-or-jeremy-corbyn-who-will-be-the-next-uk-prime-minister-265670">Prime Minister&nbsp;Boris Johnson</a>. Grant is reportedly against the "terrifying prospect"&nbsp;of five more years of Johnson's government.&nbsp; 
 
On Monday, the actor campaigned at Westminster for Liberal Democrat candidate Chuka Umunna and branded the PM a 'Pinnochio'.&nbsp; 
 
The actor is a vocal supporter of keeping the United Kingdom within the European Union and plans to campaign for it within the Labour party as well as in the Liberal Democrats.

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Fantastic to welcome <a href="https://twitter.com/HackedOffHugh?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@HackedOffHugh</a> in Marlow today. Thank you for your support! <a href="https://t.co/uAdETX6YPF">pic.twitter.com/uAdETX6YPF</a>
— Dominic Grieve for Beaconsfield (@DominicGrieve1) <a href="https://twitter.com/DominicGrieve1/status/1201575577943236609?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 2, 2019</a></blockquote>
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Speaking to the press, Grant said, "I don't think that what's left of the Conservative party - once they've now expelled anyone who is responsible or decent or sane - is something that I could contemplate as the government for the country I love."

On Sunday he campaigned for Liberal Democrat Luciana Berger and is set to appear alongside Labour party candidate Faisa Shaheen on Wednesday.&nbsp; 
 
The actor has expressed concern that a victory at next week's election will give Johnson the impetus to push Brexit further.&nbsp; 
 
"The very fact that it can be contemplated by Boris Johnson and his gang is a demonstration of just how irresponsible and narcissistic they are and they have to be stopped," the actor was quoted as saying to Business Insider.&nbsp; 
 
When the actor was asked would he leave the UK if Johnson came to power, the actor said, "I would never want to leave if I can possibly help it unless I am arrested by Boris government for sedition."

The UK general election is set to take place on December 12.

Actor Hugh Grant is going door-to-door in London to convince people to not vote for Conservative Prime Minister Boris Johnson. Grant is reportedly against the "terrifying prospect" of five more years of Johnson's government.

Actor Hugh Grant is going door-to-door in London to convince people to not vote for Conservative Prime Minister Boris Johnson. Grant is reportedly against the "terrifying prospect" of five more years of Johnson's government. On Monday, the actor campaigned at Westminster for Liberal Democrat candidate Chuka Umunna and branded the PM a 'Pinnochio'. The actor is a vocal supporter of keeping the United Kingdom within the European Union and plans to campaign for it within the Labour party as well as in the Liberal Democrats. Fantastic to welcome @HackedOffHugh in Marlow today. Thank you for your support! pic.twitter.com/uAdETX6YPF — Dominic Grieve for Beaconsfield (@DominicGrieve1) December 2, 2019 × Speaking to the press, Grant said, "I don't think that what's left of the Conservative party - once they've now expelled anyone who is responsible or decent or sane - is something that I could contemplate as the government for the country I love." On Sunday he campaigned for Liberal Democrat Luciana Berger and is set to appear alongside Labour party candidate Faisa Shaheen on Wednesday. The actor has expressed concern that a victory at next week's election will give Johnson the impetus to push Brexit further. "The very fact that it can be contemplated by Boris Johnson and his gang is a demonstration of just how irresponsible and narcissistic they are and they have to be stopped," the actor was quoted as saying to Business Insider. When the actor was asked would he leave the UK if Johnson came to power, the actor said, "I would never want to leave if I can possibly help it unless I am arrested by Boris government for sedition." The UK general election is set to take place on December 12.

Hugh Grant is convincing voters in UK to not vote for Boris Johnson

Brexit&nbsp;pressures and political uncertainty have prompted the Confederation of British&nbsp;Industry&nbsp;and a manufacturing trade body, Make&nbsp;UK, to downgrade their growth forecasts for next year.

Official figures have shown that Britain's economy is growing at the&nbsp;weakest annual pace since 2010, and&nbsp;industry&nbsp;leaders see little or no improvement in&nbsp;2020, even if Prime Minister Boris Johnson wins re-election and secures a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/uk-pm-johnson-says-uk-will-leave-eu-by-jan-31-at-the-latest-265230">Brexit&nbsp;divorce deal</a> by a January&nbsp;31 deadline.

The CBI on Monday predicted economic growth of 1.3 per cent&nbsp;this year and 1.2 per cent&nbsp;in&nbsp;2020, followed by a pick-up to 1.8 per cent&nbsp;in 2021, assuming Johnson reaches a trade deal with the EU that leads to no tariffs and little divergence from EU rules.

"Alongside perennial&nbsp;Brexit&nbsp;uncertainty, (businesses) are also contending with softer&nbsp;global&nbsp;demand," CBI chief economist Rain Newton-Smith said.

Back in July, the CBI forecast growth of 1.4 per cent&nbsp;this year and 1.5 per cent&nbsp;next.

Make&nbsp;UK&nbsp;halved its forecast for manufacturing growth next year to 0.3 per cent&nbsp;from 0.6 per cent, though it kept its forecast for growth in the overall economy in&nbsp;2020&nbsp;unchanged at 1.4 per cent, up from 1.3 per cent this year.

"Export orders have increased slightly this quarter, indicating greater confidence from foreign customers about purchasing&nbsp;UK&nbsp;goods as concerns about an end of year no-deal&nbsp;Brexit&nbsp;fade," Make&nbsp;UK's chief executive, Stephen Phipson, said.

Britain's economy has slowed since the June 2016 referendum decision to leave the European Union, with manufacturing especially hard hit due to concerns about disruption to supply chains, on top of pressures from the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/china-wants-us-tariffs-rolled-back-in-phase-one-trade-deal-report-265517">US-China trade war</a>.

Johnson's&nbsp;Brexit&nbsp;plan - which he was unable to pass through parliament before he called an early election on <a href="https://www.wionews.com/opinions/uk-elections-2019-five-reasons-to-vote-265079">December&nbsp;12</a> - sees Britain leaving the EU on January&nbsp;31, and then negotiating a new trade deal to take effect at the end of&nbsp;2020.

Johnson has said he will not allow transitional arrangements to continue beyond the end of&nbsp;2020, but many trade experts say this leaves too little time to negotiate a good deal.

If a post-EU transition deal expires at the end of&nbsp;2020&nbsp;without an agreement settled for future trade ties, the CBI predicted a sharp slowdown in growth in 2021 to just 0.4 per cent&nbsp;- the&nbsp;weakest since the financial crisis.

"A no-deal&nbsp;Brexit&nbsp;would put the brakes on&nbsp;UK&nbsp;growth and realise businesses' worst fears," Newton-Smith said.

Brexit pressures and political uncertainty have prompted the Confederation of British Industry and a manufacturing trade body, Make UK, to downgrade their growth forecasts for next year.

Brexit pressures and political uncertainty have prompted the Confederation of British Industry and a manufacturing trade body, Make UK, to downgrade their growth forecasts for next year. Official figures have shown that Britain's economy is growing at the weakest annual pace since 2010, and industry leaders see little or no improvement in 2020, even if Prime Minister Boris Johnson wins re-election and secures a Brexit divorce deal by a January 31 deadline. The CBI on Monday predicted economic growth of 1.3 per cent this year and 1.2 per cent in 2020, followed by a pick-up to 1.8 per cent in 2021, assuming Johnson reaches a trade deal with the EU that leads to no tariffs and little divergence from EU rules. "Alongside perennial Brexit uncertainty, (businesses) are also contending with softer global demand," CBI chief economist Rain Newton-Smith said. Back in July, the CBI forecast growth of 1.4 per cent this year and 1.5 per cent next. Make UK halved its forecast for manufacturing growth next year to 0.3 per cent from 0.6 per cent, though it kept its forecast for growth in the overall economy in 2020 unchanged at 1.4 per cent, up from 1.3 per cent this year. "Export orders have increased slightly this quarter, indicating greater confidence from foreign customers about purchasing UK goods as concerns about an end of year no-deal Brexit fade," Make UK's chief executive, Stephen Phipson, said. Britain's economy has slowed since the June 2016 referendum decision to leave the European Union, with manufacturing especially hard hit due to concerns about disruption to supply chains, on top of pressures from the US-China trade war. Johnson's Brexit plan - which he was unable to pass through parliament before he called an early election on December 12 - sees Britain leaving the EU on January 31, and then negotiating a new trade deal to take effect at the end of 2020. Johnson has said he will not allow transitional arrangements to continue beyond the end of 2020, but many trade experts say this leaves too little time to negotiate a good deal. If a post-EU transition deal expires at the end of 2020 without an agreement settled for future trade ties, the CBI predicted a sharp slowdown in growth in 2021 to just 0.4 per cent - the weakest since the financial crisis. "A no-deal Brexit would put the brakes on UK growth and realise businesses' worst fears," Newton-Smith said.

Brexit, weak global demand to hurt UK in 2020, industry warns

Britain's Boris Johnson said Sunday the security services were stepping up monitoring of convicted terrorists released early from prison, as the London Bridge attack became embroiled in the election campaign.

The prime minister revealed around 74 people with terrorist convictions had been released early from prison in a similar way to Usman Kan, who left jail last December and went on to stab two people to death in Friday's rampage.

"They are being properly invigilated to make sure there is no threat," Johnson told the BBC in an interview.

"We've taken a lot of action as you can imagine in the last 48 hours," he said, adding he would not provide "operation details".

Khan, 28, was shot dead while wearing a fake explosives vest by police on London Bridge after a stabbing spree that also injured three people launched at a nearby prisoner rehabilitation event he was attending.

Members of the public were hailed as heroes for preventing even greater loss of life by tackling him -- one armed with a five-foot (1.5-metre) narwhal tusk and another with a fire extinguisher.

The incident comes two years after Islamist extremists in a van ploughed into pedestrians on the bridge before attacking people at random with knives, killing eight people and wounding 48.

Police, who on Saturday searched two properties in central England believed to be linked to Khan, have said they believe he was acting alone and are not seeking anybody else.

But the Islamic State group has released a statement claiming responsibility for the attack.

'Keep you safe'

Khan, a British national, had been handed an indeterminate sentence for the protection of the public in 2012, with at least eight years in prison.

He was part of an eight-man network inspired by Al-Qaeda who had plotted to bomb targets including the London Stock Exchange, and planned to take part in "terrorist training" in Pakistan.

But his sentence was quashed by the Court of Appeal in April 2013 and he received a new 21-year term, comprising a custodial sentence of 16 years and five years on conditional release.

He had then been conditionally released from jail last December under so-called licensing conditions after serving around half of his jail term.

Khan has become a contentious political issue ahead of Britain's December 12 election, with Johnson blaming the previous Labour government for changing the law in 2008 to allow for the early release of prisoners.

The Tory leader has vowed that if he reclaims power this month he will end early release for terrorist offences and introduce minimum 14-year sentences, with some convicted never to be released.&nbsp;

The proposals were not in the Conservatives' formal manifesto released last Sunday.

Johnson penned an article setting out the new stance in The Mail on Sunday newspaper, under the headline: "Give me a majority and I'll keep you safe from terror".

'Knee-jerk reactions'

Critics have hit out fiercely at him for appearing to politicise Friday's attack -- including the father of the first-named victim.

David Merritt confirmed on Twitter the death of his son Jack Merritt, a course coordinator at the Cambridge University's criminology institute which was hosting the event targeted by Khan.

He described his 25-year-old son as "a beautiful spirit who always took the side of the underdog", in a series of messages that also responded to the political furore around the attack.&nbsp;

"We don't need knee-jerk reactions," Merritt wrote.&nbsp;

"It's not lenient policies that are to blame, it's the destruction of the probation service that is supposed to monitor and supervise prisoners after release, &amp; rehabilitation services," he added.

"Since 2010 these service(s) have been cut to the bone. We are all less safe as a result."

Meanwhile, Johnson's political opponents noted his Conservative Party has been in power for nearly a decade but had chosen not to tighten the laws around terrorism sentencing.&nbsp;

They have also argued changes to sentencing laws introduced in the 1990s under the Conservatives also contributed to the early release system.

"I think there has to be an examination of how our prison services work and crucially what happens to them on release from prison," Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn told Sky News.

He would not commit to ending early release in all scenarios for terrorism offences.

"I think it depends on the circumstances and it depends on the sentence but crucially depends on what they've done in prison," Corbyn said.

Britain's Boris Johnson said Sunday the security services were stepping up monitoring of convicted terrorists released early from prison, as the London Bridge attack became embroiled in the election campaign.

Britain's Boris Johnson said Sunday the security services were stepping up monitoring of convicted terrorists released early from prison, as the London Bridge attack became embroiled in the election campaign. The prime minister revealed around 74 people with terrorist convictions had been released early from prison in a similar way to Usman Kan, who left jail last December and went on to stab two people to death in Friday's rampage. "They are being properly invigilated to make sure there is no threat," Johnson told the BBC in an interview. "We've taken a lot of action as you can imagine in the last 48 hours," he said, adding he would not provide "operation details". Khan, 28, was shot dead while wearing a fake explosives vest by police on London Bridge after a stabbing spree that also injured three people launched at a nearby prisoner rehabilitation event he was attending. Members of the public were hailed as heroes for preventing even greater loss of life by tackling him -- one armed with a five-foot (1.5-metre) narwhal tusk and another with a fire extinguisher. The incident comes two years after Islamist extremists in a van ploughed into pedestrians on the bridge before attacking people at random with knives, killing eight people and wounding 48. Police, who on Saturday searched two properties in central England believed to be linked to Khan, have said they believe he was acting alone and are not seeking anybody else. But the Islamic State group has released a statement claiming responsibility for the attack. 'Keep you safe' Khan, a British national, had been handed an indeterminate sentence for the protection of the public in 2012, with at least eight years in prison. He was part of an eight-man network inspired by Al-Qaeda who had plotted to bomb targets including the London Stock Exchange, and planned to take part in "terrorist training" in Pakistan. But his sentence was quashed by the Court of Appeal in April 2013 and he received a new 21-year term, comprising a custodial sentence of 16 years and five years on conditional release. He had then been conditionally released from jail last December under so-called licensing conditions after serving around half of his jail term. Khan has become a contentious political issue ahead of Britain's December 12 election, with Johnson blaming the previous Labour government for changing the law in 2008 to allow for the early release of prisoners. The Tory leader has vowed that if he reclaims power this month he will end early release for terrorist offences and introduce minimum 14-year sentences, with some convicted never to be released. The proposals were not in the Conservatives' formal manifesto released last Sunday. Johnson penned an article setting out the new stance in The Mail on Sunday newspaper, under the headline: "Give me a majority and I'll keep you safe from terror". 'Knee-jerk reactions' Critics have hit out fiercely at him for appearing to politicise Friday's attack -- including the father of the first-named victim. David Merritt confirmed on Twitter the death of his son Jack Merritt, a course coordinator at the Cambridge University's criminology institute which was hosting the event targeted by Khan. He described his 25-year-old son as "a beautiful spirit who always took the side of the underdog", in a series of messages that also responded to the political furore around the attack. "We don't need knee-jerk reactions," Merritt wrote. "It's not lenient policies that are to blame, it's the destruction of the probation service that is supposed to monitor and supervise prisoners after release, & rehabilitation services," he added. "Since 2010 these service(s) have been cut to the bone. We are all less safe as a result." Meanwhile, Johnson's political opponents noted his Conservative Party has been in power for nearly a decade but had chosen not to tighten the laws around terrorism sentencing. They have also argued changes to sentencing laws introduced in the 1990s under the Conservatives also contributed to the early release system. "I think there has to be an examination of how our prison services work and crucially what happens to them on release from prison," Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn told Sky News. He would not commit to ending early release in all scenarios for terrorism offences. "I think it depends on the circumstances and it depends on the sentence but crucially depends on what they've done in prison," Corbyn said.

Terror checks intensified as London attack enters election fray

Boris Johnson's Conservative Party would win a comfortable majority in Britain's parliament if the upcoming election were held this week, according to a poll by respected research firm YouGov. Britain votes on December 12, with Prime Minister Johnson hoping to secure a majority to be able to push through his Brexit deal to take the country out of the European Union.

WION Dispatch: Gap between Tories and Labour narrows

Net <a href="https://www.wionews.com/.../no-more-preferential-treatment-for-eu-migrants -after-brexit-uk-conservatives-262734">migration to Britain</a> fell to its lowest level in nearly six years during the year to June, driven by a fall in the number of European Union citizens moving to the country for work ahead of <a href="https://www.wionews.com/.../wion-edit-lessons-to-learn-from-jeremy-corbyns -blunders-265031">Brexit</a>, official data showed on Thursday.

The Office for National Statistics said 212,000 more people moved to Britain than left, the lowest total since the year to September 2013.

Immigration of EU citizens fell to 199,000 the lowest level since the year ending March 2013, the ONS said, extending a declining trend since the 2016 referendum, when Britons voted by 52 per cent&nbsp;to 48 per cent&nbsp;to leave the EU.

By contrast, 151,000 EU citizens left Britain in the year to June, the largest total since records started 10 years ago.

Immigration is a hot political topic ahead of the December&nbsp;12 national election.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson has pledged to limit the number of people coming to Britain by implementing an Australian-style points system, while the opposition Labour Party said migration policy should fit the needs of the economy.

"While there are still more EU citizens moving to the UK than leaving, EU net migration has fallen since 2016, driven by fewer EU arrivals for work," the ONS said in a statement.

"In contrast, non-EU net migration has gradually increased for the past six years, largely as more non-EU citizens came to study."

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/.../uk-election-poll-predicts-conservative-majority- 264965">Johnson</a> has said Britain will leave the EU by the end of January if his ruling Conservatives win a parliamentary majority in a Dec. 12 election.

Net migration to Britain fell to its lowest level in nearly six years during the year to June, driven by a fall in the number of European Union citizens moving to the country for work ahead of Brexit, official data showed on Thursday.

Net migration to Britain fell to its lowest level in nearly six years during the year to June, driven by a fall in the number of European Union citizens moving to the country for work ahead of Brexit, official data showed on Thursday. The Office for National Statistics said 212,000 more people moved to Britain than left, the lowest total since the year to September 2013. Immigration of EU citizens fell to 199,000 the lowest level since the year ending March 2013, the ONS said, extending a declining trend since the 2016 referendum, when Britons voted by 52 per cent to 48 per cent to leave the EU. By contrast, 151,000 EU citizens left Britain in the year to June, the largest total since records started 10 years ago. Immigration is a hot political topic ahead of the December 12 national election. Prime Minister Boris Johnson has pledged to limit the number of people coming to Britain by implementing an Australian-style points system, while the opposition Labour Party said migration policy should fit the needs of the economy. "While there are still more EU citizens moving to the UK than leaving, EU net migration has fallen since 2016, driven by fewer EU arrivals for work," the ONS said in a statement. "In contrast, non-EU net migration has gradually increased for the past six years, largely as more non-EU citizens came to study." Johnson has said Britain will leave the EU by the end of January if his ruling Conservatives win a parliamentary majority in a Dec. 12 election.

Net migration to UK falls to lowest level in almost six years: Official data

By Rainbow Murray and Robin Pettitt

If you live in a safe seat, don’t feel inspired by the choices on offer, and/or would rather spend December 12 doing your Christmas shopping, you might be considering not voting in the 2019 general election – then here are five reasons to change your mind.

1. Your vote does matter

The first and by far and away the most important reason to vote is that, regardless of what anyone might tell you, it matters. The ongoing saga of Brexit is very much a case in point. The way people voted in 2015 resulted in a majority Conservative Party government, which paved the way for the 2016 Brexit referendum. Regardless of whether you think that was a good thing or not, voting mattered.

In the referendum of 2016, a majority of those who voted, voted for Leave. Regardless of whether you think that was a good thing or not, voting mattered.

The way people voted in 2017 deprived Theresa May of a parliamentary majority – which meant the then prime minister was unable to get her deal through parliament, a problem inherited by her successor, Boris Johnson. Regardless of whether you think that was a good thing or not, voting mattered.

It is true that in many parts of the UK some parties utterly dominate. There are areas of the UK that have been represented by MPs from the same party since the 1800s. In areas where one party has a massive majority it may seem that voting will make little difference, which can be deeply frustrating. However, not voting is the one thing guaranteed to make no difference.

Even if voting will not affect the outcome of the result in an individual constituency, it will affect national vote shares for the parties. Parties that cannot win can still get their agendas taken seriously by the other parties if their vote share is strong. Part of the reason why the former prime minister, David Cameron, decided to call a referendum in the first place was the rise of UKIP as a political force. The newer party had no significant presence in parliament but had Cameron’s Conservatives running scared every time it increased its vote share.

In addition, national vote share is increasingly part of the political debate after elections and your vote can be part of that story, even if it doesn’t swing your constituency result. Again, voting matters.

2. Turn up to change the system

Even if you have no hope of your vote making a difference in your constituency, at least consider going to your local polling station and spoiling your ballot paper. This is not a pointless exercise. If thousands of voters in safe constituencies spoiled their ballot papers it would give ammunition to those who are campaigning to replace the UK’s antiquated electoral system with something that gives votes everywhere more weight. The number of spoiled ballots is recorded in each constituency.

3. Defending democracy

Having the right to vote cannot be taken for granted. Just as the right to vote can be obtained, so it can be lost. There are numerous examples of countries where democratic standards were undermined, sometimes fatally so.

The UK’s democracy is still seen as being in good health. However, the Windrush scandal, the government’s attempt to prorogue parliament to avoid debate, and the potential impact of Brexit on human rights shows that the freedoms we have now are not immutable. The most simple and basic thing anyone can do to keep democracy strong is to vote. Arguably, voting is not enough in itself to protect freedoms, but it is a necessary minimum.

4. Don’t vote, can’t moan 
 
Any complaints you may have about anything related to politics (and everything is related to politics) will ring rather hollow after December 12 if you do not do the absolute minimum to make a difference by voting. Quite apart from Brexit, the plans presented by the main parties in their manifestos offer radically different futures for the country.

Voting is the most fundamental way of expressing an opinion on what the parties are planning on doing if elected. Failing to do so makes any subsequent complaints about what the government is doing fairly hypocritical. Don’t vote? Can’t moan! Want to moan? Got to vote!

5. Paying respects 
 
Having a system of government where ordinary people have a say in how they are governed is not automatic. Indeed, it was not always so in the United Kingdom.

The extension of the right to vote in the UK was a long and hard struggle with very real human costs – as exemplified by the 18 killed and hundreds injured during the Peterloo Massacre just over 200 years when cavalry (yes, men, on horses, wielding swords) attacked protesters demanding a greater say in how parliament was put together. This atrocity, and the brutality experienced by those who fought for the right of women to vote remind us how controversial the right to vote really is. Voting is a way of paying respect to those who suffered and died to secure that vote.

And finally, one last reason to vote, if the above still aren’t good enough, is that if people didn’t turn out on election day, we would not have #dogsatpollingstations.

 
(Rainbow Murray is Professor of Politics, Queen Mary University of London; Robin Pettitt is Senior Lecturer in Comparative Politics, Kingston University) 
 
(This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/five-reasons-to-vote-in-this-election-127666">original article</a>)

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL) &nbsp; 
&nbsp;

&nbsp;

By Rainbow Murray and Robin Pettitt If you live in a safe seat, don’t feel inspired by the choices on offer, and/or would rather spend December 12 doing your Christmas shopping, you might be considering not voting in the 2019 general election – then here are five reasons to change your mind.

By Rainbow Murray and Robin Pettitt If you live in a safe seat, don’t feel inspired by the choices on offer, and/or would rather spend December 12 doing your Christmas shopping, you might be considering not voting in the 2019 general election – then here are five reasons to change your mind. 1. Your vote does matter The first and by far and away the most important reason to vote is that, regardless of what anyone might tell you, it matters. The ongoing saga of Brexit is very much a case in point. The way people voted in 2015 resulted in a majority Conservative Party government, which paved the way for the 2016 Brexit referendum. Regardless of whether you think that was a good thing or not, voting mattered. In the referendum of 2016, a majority of those who voted, voted for Leave. Regardless of whether you think that was a good thing or not, voting mattered. The way people voted in 2017 deprived Theresa May of a parliamentary majority – which meant the then prime minister was unable to get her deal through parliament, a problem inherited by her successor, Boris Johnson. Regardless of whether you think that was a good thing or not, voting mattered. It is true that in many parts of the UK some parties utterly dominate. There are areas of the UK that have been represented by MPs from the same party since the 1800s. In areas where one party has a massive majority it may seem that voting will make little difference, which can be deeply frustrating. However, not voting is the one thing guaranteed to make no difference. Even if voting will not affect the outcome of the result in an individual constituency, it will affect national vote shares for the parties. Parties that cannot win can still get their agendas taken seriously by the other parties if their vote share is strong. Part of the reason why the former prime minister, David Cameron, decided to call a referendum in the first place was the rise of UKIP as a political force. The newer party had no significant presence in parliament but had Cameron’s Conservatives running scared every time it increased its vote share. In addition, national vote share is increasingly part of the political debate after elections and your vote can be part of that story, even if it doesn’t swing your constituency result. Again, voting matters. 2. Turn up to change the system Even if you have no hope of your vote making a difference in your constituency, at least consider going to your local polling station and spoiling your ballot paper. This is not a pointless exercise. If thousands of voters in safe constituencies spoiled their ballot papers it would give ammunition to those who are campaigning to replace the UK’s antiquated electoral system with something that gives votes everywhere more weight. The number of spoiled ballots is recorded in each constituency. 3. Defending democracy Having the right to vote cannot be taken for granted. Just as the right to vote can be obtained, so it can be lost. There are numerous examples of countries where democratic standards were undermined, sometimes fatally so. The UK’s democracy is still seen as being in good health. However, the Windrush scandal, the government’s attempt to prorogue parliament to avoid debate, and the potential impact of Brexit on human rights shows that the freedoms we have now are not immutable. The most simple and basic thing anyone can do to keep democracy strong is to vote. Arguably, voting is not enough in itself to protect freedoms, but it is a necessary minimum. 4. Don’t vote, can’t moan Any complaints you may have about anything related to politics (and everything is related to politics) will ring rather hollow after December 12 if you do not do the absolute minimum to make a difference by voting. Quite apart from Brexit, the plans presented by the main parties in their manifestos offer radically different futures for the country. Voting is the most fundamental way of expressing an opinion on what the parties are planning on doing if elected. Failing to do so makes any subsequent complaints about what the government is doing fairly hypocritical. Don’t vote? Can’t moan! Want to moan? Got to vote! 5. Paying respects Having a system of government where ordinary people have a say in how they are governed is not automatic. Indeed, it was not always so in the United Kingdom. The extension of the right to vote in the UK was a long and hard struggle with very real human costs – as exemplified by the 18 killed and hundreds injured during the Peterloo Massacre just over 200 years when cavalry (yes, men, on horses, wielding swords) attacked protesters demanding a greater say in how parliament was put together. This atrocity, and the brutality experienced by those who fought for the right of women to vote remind us how controversial the right to vote really is. Voting is a way of paying respect to those who suffered and died to secure that vote. And finally, one last reason to vote, if the above still aren’t good enough, is that if people didn’t turn out on election day, we would not have #dogsatpollingstations. (Rainbow Murray is Professor of Politics, Queen Mary University of London; Robin Pettitt is Senior Lecturer in Comparative Politics, Kingston University) (This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article) (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

UK elections 2019: Five reasons to vote

The political parties of the United Kingdom are gearing up for their upcoming general election. The general election is scheduled to be held on December 12, 2019.

A total of 650 people will be chosen as members of Parliament (MPs), to decide laws and policies.

The Indian diaspora along with other South Asian communities in Britain plays the role of kingmaker in the polls.

There has been a sense of anger among the British-Indian community over the Labour party's stand on the abrogation of Article 370.&nbsp;

Watch: How will Indian diaspora impact UK elections?

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/wion-dispatch-who-will-british-indians-vote-for-264726/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

These are the people that every party is looking to win over. Britain’s minority communities, particularly the South Asians that makeup nearly 5 per cent of the population.

Traditionally ethnic minorities vote Labour, in the past two general elections 77 per cent of people in the minority community voted Labour that’s 1 in 5 of Labour’s voters while the conservatives have only 1 in 20.

But that is set to change, there has been much anger from the Hindu community over Labour passing a motion criticizing India's actions in Kashmir at its annual conference. It has led to claims the party is "Anti-Indian" and "Anti-Hindu".

British-Indians protested by turning their backs on London's mayor, a Labour MP, Sadiq Khan.

Kuldeep Shekhawat from overseas friends of Bhartiya Janta Party once considering running as an MP for Labour but now he is firmly backing the Tories.

The biggest reason for this is a guy called Bob Blackman, for every Indian event he is there whether it is the parliament, whether it is in public, whether it is the national elections of India whether we call him to a shop or a restaurant Bob Blackman stands out. He is there for the community and he is one solid reason why the Indian community says at least there is one person who is with us. Policy-wise what they have done the number of ministers in the present cabinet our home secretary is from Indian origin. The Indian community sees the conservatives are for us, they are not against us that is why they are for the conservatives now.

The conservatives certainly are looking to woo British-Indian voters with a Pro-India manifesto highlighting its desire to build stronger links with dynamic economies like India.

"I have met the Prime Minister himself and on the record, he had told me that the first thing he will do after Brexit is visiting India so that is very good for a country that looks a community from a very positive angle," said Kuldeep Shekhawat.

The big question is whether it will be enough to change British-Indian voter's minds.

The political parties of the United Kingdom are gearing up for their upcoming general election. The general election is scheduled to be held on December 12, 2019.

The political parties of the United Kingdom are gearing up for their upcoming general election. The general election is scheduled to be held on December 12, 2019. A total of 650 people will be chosen as members of Parliament (MPs), to decide laws and policies. The Indian diaspora along with other South Asian communities in Britain plays the role of kingmaker in the polls. There has been a sense of anger among the British-Indian community over the Labour party's stand on the abrogation of Article 370. Watch: How will Indian diaspora impact UK elections? These are the people that every party is looking to win over. Britain’s minority communities, particularly the South Asians that makeup nearly 5 per cent of the population. Traditionally ethnic minorities vote Labour, in the past two general elections 77 per cent of people in the minority community voted Labour that’s 1 in 5 of Labour’s voters while the conservatives have only 1 in 20. But that is set to change, there has been much anger from the Hindu community over Labour passing a motion criticizing India's actions in Kashmir at its annual conference. It has led to claims the party is "Anti-Indian" and "Anti-Hindu". British-Indians protested by turning their backs on London's mayor, a Labour MP, Sadiq Khan. Kuldeep Shekhawat from overseas friends of Bhartiya Janta Party once considering running as an MP for Labour but now he is firmly backing the Tories. The biggest reason for this is a guy called Bob Blackman, for every Indian event he is there whether it is the parliament, whether it is in public, whether it is the national elections of India whether we call him to a shop or a restaurant Bob Blackman stands out. He is there for the community and he is one solid reason why the Indian community says at least there is one person who is with us. Policy-wise what they have done the number of ministers in the present cabinet our home secretary is from Indian origin. The Indian community sees the conservatives are for us, they are not against us that is why they are for the conservatives now. The conservatives certainly are looking to woo British-Indian voters with a Pro-India manifesto highlighting its desire to build stronger links with dynamic economies like India. "I have met the Prime Minister himself and on the record, he had told me that the first thing he will do after Brexit is visiting India so that is very good for a country that looks a community from a very positive angle," said Kuldeep Shekhawat. The big question is whether it will be enough to change British-Indian voter's minds.

British election: Boris or Corbyn; who will manage to woo the British-Indian voters?

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