Naturally Unnatural Issue #8 17th June 2017 | Page 6

Issue #8 17th June 2017
Theresa May’s
gamble back-
fires but could
form an even
further right-
wing govern-
ment
A Conservative-led
coalition or deal
with the DUP could
see the most au-
thoritarian right-
wing government
formed in modern
UK politics.
respectively.
May.
One giant misstep for
Theresa May
The Conservative campaign is a stark contrast
to Labour’s, the former concentrated on The-
resa May as an individual “what I will do”, with
Despite winning the most seats and having the them asking the public to give her power but
largest voter share, this is a loss for Theresa
Labour were presented as a collective, “what
May. Because she went into the this with such we will do for you”.
a huge lead, thinking she could all but wipe out
Instability with the DUP
real opposition to their plans. She triggered
Article 50 and then called for the snap election, The next problem comes in the form of the
probably in mind that she could make it all
By Matthew Clifton
DUP, who have backed the Conservatives, in a
about
Brexit
but
that
plan
backfired
drastically
bid to gain power for Theresa May. To put into
As the exit poll came in on June 8 th , it had
as people were concerned over the public ser- context, the next government will be further
become increasingly clear that Theresa May’s
vices such as the NHS and police. Her campaign right-wing than previously. The DUP were
decision to call for a snap general election
was dreadful, she failed to engage with the
formed through armed extremists in 1971,
was one of the worst decisions in her political
public, hiding behind closed events and dic-
they are anti-LGBTQ, anti-abortion, anti-
career. She announced the election with a 24-
tating what journalists could and couldn’t ask. human rights and are extreme religious funda-
point lead over Jeremy Corbyn’s Labour, ac-
mentalists and creationists that are also cli-
cording to the polls, who often underestimate A coalition of chaos perhaps? Theresa May
called the election to strengthen her hand, she mate change deniers.
Conservative support. But the exit poll was
failed. She made the election about her and
spot on with how many seats would go Con-
The Conservatives however, are gaining their
Jeremy Corbyn, but the electorate has largely support to form a government of stability...the
servative way.
said up yours to that sentiment. Theresa May problem is that the DUP are against power-
Conservative won 318 seats (including House
sharing with Sinn Fein and are against the
gambled this election and screwed it up, but
of Commons Speaker, John Bercow), a net loss
not before she triggered Article 50. If her gov- Good Friday Agreement. With the latter in
of 12, Labour with 261, a net gain of 29. Mean-
ernment doesn't last the negotiations, which is jeopardy because of Brexit, and May pursuing
while the SNP lost 21 seats, winning 35 seats
a hard Brexit, this creates an extremely volatile
likely, it would push further chaos as the time
and the Liberal Democrats, Democratic Union-
and unstable coalition.
limit of the negotiations would be getting
ist Party (DUP) and Sinn Fein all increased the
shorter and shorter as more mess is created by
number of seats to 12 (+3), 10 (+2) and 7 (+3)
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