BORIS Johnson finally secured the election he was hoping for after the Commons approved his motion.
But where do the main parties stand on this decision? Here’s all you need to know.
The Tories are aiming for December 12 to be polling day
Conservatives
There were a few grumbles in the Tory party after Boris announced that this current parliament had run its course and needed to be ended.
His own backbenchers would agree with this, but members of his Cabinet and other MPs were not impressed over the timing.
Some felt that having an election without having delivered Brexit was a risky move – leaving the party open to attack during a campaign.
They aimed for December 12 to be polling day, which it has been decided, to help steer the necessary legislation through.
Boris told MPs at the 1922 committee tonight there was “no other way forward” than an election because Labour would have “sliced and diced” his Brexit Bill.
Labour is in two minds about a general election
Labour
Unlike the Conservatives, the Labour Party was completely divided over the decision of an election.
After Jeremy Corbyn’s MPs blocked a vote three times, they finally came out to back his plan tonight by 438 votes to 20.
Some have argued that a general election will be a risk – what with the party’s confused message when it comes to Brexit and Mr Corbyn’s popularity ratings at an all time low.
The majority of backbench Labour MPs want to remain in the EU and wanted to avoid an election, and are pushing for a second referendum instead.
The party wanted the poll date to be December 9, believing university students will risk being disenfranchised with the chosen date of December 12.
For Lib Dems, university student votes are important when it comes to a general election
Liberal Democrats
Party leader Jo Swinson was pushing for an election, saying she realised that there would never be a majority to secure a second referendum in this current Parliament.
The Lib Dems hope that an election would return more MPs who do back another Brexit vote.
They wanted the polling day to take place on December 9.
The party needs university students to vote, but it wants to limit the time the Government can have to pass its withdrawal agreement bill before Parliament is dissolved.
Polling day on December 12 means parliament could dissolve next week.
The Scottish National Party
The party has consistently called for a general election as it has also appeared to have lost hope in gaining sufficient support for a second referendum.
It wants to avoid Boris’s Brexit deal from passing as it will lead to Scotland leaving the EU with the rest of the UK.
As far as a general election is concerned, the SNP wanted an election before spring and is likely to compromise on a polling date.
It was against to the December 12 polling date for similar reasons to the Lib Dems, due to concerns about the cold and lack of daylight into the evenings – which could affect the numbers of voters.
