Britain’s prime minister aims to hold early elections in June

Updated on April 19 | UK lawmakers on Wednesday voted 522-13 in favor of holding the June 8 elections, according to the Associated Press.

Original story:

British Prime Minister Theresa May announced Tuesday that she plans to hold an early general election on June 8 in an effort to smooth the way toward the UK’s split from the European Union.

The House of Commons on Wednesday will vote whether to approve the early election.

“Britain is leaving the European Union and there is no turning back,” said May. “We want a deep and special partnership between a strong and successful European Union and a United Kingdom that is free to chart its own way in the world.”

The split from the EU means Britain will regain control of its money, laws and borders, and be able to strike its own trade deals, the prime minister said.

But some of the UK’s other political parties are against the move and have promised to fight her Conservative Party. May acknowledged on Tuesday that she earlier had promised not to hold elections before 2020 but now feels they are necessary for stability.

Labor Party leader Jeremy Corbyn welcomed the announcement, saying it would give voters a chance to put a government in charge “that will put the interests of the majority first.”

Polls show May’s Conservative Party leading the opposition Labor Party by a comfortable margin.