UK parliament backs PM’s plan for early June 8 vote

Prime Minister Theresa May easily won a two-thirds parliamentary majority for an early general election on June 8 instead of waiting until 2020. The motion passed by 522 votes for to 13 against and an estimated 100 abstentions. It was backed by the ruling Conservatives and two opposition parties Labor and the Liberal-Democrats. All three parties had their rebels, most of whom abstained. Defending the measure, May told MPs there was a "window of opportunity" to hold a poll before Brexit negotiations begin in earnest in June and that the country needed "strong leadership" to make a success of the process.