Strange bedfellows may be the end result of UK election

UK voters warned to expect the nastiest, most brutal election in a lifetime, as the country heads to the polls amid Brexit uncertainty.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson heads back into 10 Downing Street on Wednesday after the parliament backed an early election. Picture: AP

British voters have to be primed for the nastiest and most brutal election in a lifetime, one MP fears, as the country heads to the polls on December 12 for its first Christmas election in nearly a century.

Others have suggested that yes, turkeys do vote for an early Christmas, as a slew of politicians face punishment at the polls from a volatile and angry electorate.

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Labour MP David Lammy suggested the gloves were off as the five-week campaign begins upon the dissolution of parliament next Wednesday. He warned that he was deeply worried about further division around Brexit being caused during the campaign.

“Do not underestimate how fearful a significant part of the population are under Boris Johnson’s Conservatives,’’ Mr Lammy told the Foreign Press Association in London on Wednesday.

“Shier voters and business-friendly voters are really concerned. I can tell you this, this will be the nastiest and most brutal election in our lifetime and I am deeply worried about further division.’’

British Labour Party MP David Lammy. Picture: AP

In the hours after securing the election date, Prime Minister Boris Johnson was roundly cheered into a meeting of his backbench committee, warning them the upcoming battle would be “mega-tough’’, not the least ­because the poll occurs just a fortnight before Christmas.

Tory MPs have been urged to encourage elderly voters — their traditional support base — to get to the voting stations despite the chilly, darkened days. Mr Johnson will reinforce his party’s commitment to dealing with crime, ­improving the health service and hospital ­facilities and delivering Brexit.

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has promised “the most ambitious and radical campaign for real change that the country has ever seen’’ as the party lurches towards Marxism with nationalisation of major government industries including housing. Labour’s Brexit policy is to back a second referendum.

But Labour MP Barry Sheerman said it was sheer madness to have supported a December poll, likening the vote to turkeys at Christmas.

Mr Lammy said Liberal Democrat leader Jo Swinson was “yo-yo Jo’’ for her changing policies that were instrumental in Mr Johnson being successful in getting an election called on his fourth attempt.

The Liberal Democrats had joined the Scottish Nationalists on Tuesday to support the government’s election bill, forcing Mr Corbyn to fall in line, only 24 hours after Labour rejected an election vote.

Votes on Tuesday saw the government’s preferred election day succeed, while Labour attempts to include 16- and 17-year-olds and EU citizens living in Britain on the voting register, failed.

Ms Swinson wanted to go to the polls because her stance to revoke Brexit entirely “on day one’’ could mean Remainer voters in Labour seats flood across to her party. The Lib Dems believe they can secure 40 seats but have ambitions to reach 140.

The Scottish Nationalist Party is similarly buoyed, believing it can wipe out the Scottish Conservatives and be in a position to push for a second referendum on Scottish independence next year.

While Labour has dragged its heels on an election, and has had a consistently poor showing in the polls, Mr Johnson will have to fight for a majority.

Britain's Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn talks during a debate about the election bill. Picture: AP

Experienced and highly regarded political analyst John Curtice from the University of Strathclyde told London radio the safest prediction was that there would be a record number of MPs — possibly more than 100 — coming from outside the Tories or ­Labour in the next parliament.

“The Scottish National Party look set to win the vast majority of seats in Scotland. The Liberal Democrats, given their position in the polls, should do extremely well. We expect Caroline Lucas and the Green Party to hang on to her seat,’’ Sir John said.

Sir John added that the break-up of the two-party system would make it difficult for either the Conservatives or Labour to win an overall majority if 100 seats were already spoken for.

“It matters because this is an asymmetric election. It’s an election that Boris Johnson has to win. If he does not get a majority or something very close to it, he will not be able to stay in government because the Conservatives do not have any friends elsewhere,’’ he said.

“The Labour Party, by contrast, at least has the possibility of doing a deal with the SNP, a deal with the Liberal Democrats, getting support of the Greens, and maybe even the DUP not standing in their way.

“Bear in mind, this is not an election that Labour have to win to stop Brexit, but it is an election that they and the other opposition ­parties simply need to deny the Conservatives a majority.’’

Mr Johnson is being encouraged by some backbenchers to strike a deal with the Brexit Party and allow it a free run in northern Labour-held seats. In return, the Brexit Party, which is also talking to the Democratic Unionist Party about a pact, would not split the vote in Conservative held seats.

Meanwhile, nearly 50 sitting MPs have indicated they will stand down and not contest the election. Liberal Democrat Heidi Allen said Brexit had broken politics and she was exhausted by “the nastiness and intimidation’’.