Politics
Out of context: Reply #25822
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This whole UK snap election business bears a striking resemblance to Canada in the 1990s.
After a series of deeply unpopular policies, laws and more than a few scandals, then-Conservative Prime Minister finally resigned, and the Minister of National Defence — one Kim Campbell — was appointed leader of the party and PM, sans general election.
Knowing that she needed legitimacy from the electorate, she called a snap election for that same year, which ended in the Conservatives living in the political wilderness for over ten years ... and resulted in Ms Campbell having the dubious distinction of being the Canadian Prime Minister with the third-shortest term in office (137 days).
Mulroney knew this would happen, which is why he resigned. when he did. He knew that if he ran again, he'd be voted out so — rather than being shamed at the polls — he threw Kim Campbell under the bus.
What we're seeing in Britain — in its simplest, distilled form — is effectively the same thing. Cameron knew that in a post-Brexit UK, he'd never re-elected, so he decided to find someone to take the bullet for him.
That someone is Theresa May.
People may have initially voted for Brexit but — after a few months and really understanding what that will actually imply in very real, very ugly terms — I suspect the British electorate will have something of a change of heart, and punish May and the Conservatives for it.
- This outcome will, of course, depend entirely on how quickly and how well the opposition parties get their shit together.Continuity
- Ah sorry ... the former PM was Brian Mulroney, the one who fucked Campbell.Continuity
- she knows there is no viable opposition (maybe) so when brexit shit really hits fan later on she can say it was will of peoplelowimpakt
- This is the real problem, actually. And it should serve as a lesson to both the Lib Dems and Labour.Continuity
- Having said that, the opposition in CA in the 1990s wasn't much better, if we're honest. It was very much a case of people holding their noses and voting for ..Continuity
- ... the lesser of three evils.Continuity