Fylde coast MPs reaction to snap election call

Prime Minister Theresa May prepares to make a statement in Downing Street, London, where she announced a snap general election on June 8

Voters look set to go to the polls on June 8.

Blackpool North and Cleveleys Conservative MP Paul Maynard said: "There will be many people who will be surprised today.

"But this is a chance to achieve clarity, certainly and security as we head into some very complex Brexit negotiations.

"This will reassure our European neighbours that when they negotiate with us, whoever is Prime Minister has the full backing of the British people."

He added while he was not forewarned about today's announcement, he was ready to launch his own campaign.

Mr Maynard said; "Obviously there will be a number of organisational decisions to make but we have a good campaign team as shown recently by support in the Warbreck by-election."

Fellow Tory Fylde MP Mark Menzies said: “This is the right thing for us to do to make sure Britain has the best bargaining position with the European Union.

“An election now will give the Prime Minister a mandate in order to get the best deal for the British people as we leave.

“This will give us the certainty, stability, security and strong leadership we need to get that deal.

“It is the only way we can have a successful Brexit, bearing in mind all of the other parties are in-fighting over our decision to leave the European Union.”

But Blackpool South Labour MP Gordon Marsden branded the move as “cynical and hypocritical after the Prime Minister said repeatedly that she didn’t want a General Election to go ahead in this way.”

He added; “It reflects the fact that she has not been able to put forward any coherent policy as to how she is going to deal with Brexit, and in particular the funding and thousands of jobs at risk in Blackpool if we get a hard Brexit and we have no access to the single market.

“She is asking for a blank cheque at a time when Blackpool and the country in general is not seeing major economic growth.”

In a statement outside 10 Downing Street following a cabinet meeting this morning, Mrs May said: “The country is coming together but Westminster is not.”

A vote on holding an early election will be held in the House of Commons on Wednesday. Mrs May must win the backing of Parliament to hold the snap election.