It's a Huge Day for Britain's Future

Voters go to the polls with fate of Brexit at stake
By John Johnson,  Newser Staff
Posted Dec 12, 2019 6:37 AM CST
It's a Huge Day for Britain's Future
British opposition Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn after voting in the general election in Islington, London, England, Thursday, Dec. 12, 2019 .   (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis)

British voters go to the polls on Thursday, and if that sounds familiar, it's because this is the third general election in less than five years, notes the BBC. This particular vote, however, is considered one of the nation's most important since World World II, reports the AP. And, yes, the reason is Brexit. Boris Johnson hopes to remain prime minister and win a mandate to push through Britain's exit from the European Union by Jan. 31. Rival Jeremy Corbyn promises a new referendum on whether Brexit should happen at all. The House of Commons' 650 seats are all at play in the election, which comes more than two years ahead of schedule. Johnson's Conservative Party has consistently led Corbyn's Labour Party in the polls, though the margin seemed to be tightening of late—and Reuters notes that pollsters were wrong about the 2016 Brexit referendum anyway. The competing quotes:

  • Johnson: "We could have a Conservative majority government which will get Brexit done and unleash Britain’s potential," said Johnson before the vote. "This election is our chance to end the gridlock, but the result is on a knife-edge."
  • Corbyn: "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."
Results are expected to be announced in the early hours of Friday. (More Britain stories.)

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