As The Journal was going to press on Tuesday, Prime Minister Theresa May, after initially ruling out an election until 2020, called a snap

General Election just a few weeks away to be held on 8th June this year. This will take place only a month after an election for a West of England Mayor and local Council elections. The decision has prompted mixed reactions locally, with many residents and political leaders taking to social media to voice their concern.

Many commenters, including former B&NES Council Leader, Paul Crossley, are concerned about holding a General Election so soon after the local and Mayoral elections, with many worried this will cause confusion amongst residents, as well as being a waste of taxpayers’ money in holding two separate elections. The Prime Minister claims this decision is because of threats in Parliament from other parties regarding the Brexit negotiations.

The announcement gives political parties just 51 days to begin their campaigns. Though the decision has been approved by Cabinet, it needed to be passed in Parliament on Wednesday.

Locally, party leaders and campaigners have welcomed the decision, especially those in Bath, who are readying themselves for a fight against sitting Conservative MP, Ben Howlett.

Speaking on Twitter, Dine Romero, from the Liberal Democrats, said: “Bath needs a candidate that everyone can support, one that is against a hard and divisive Brexit and who will put Bath first.”

The Bath Labour Party had a similar stance, saying: “We have yet to select our candidate, but we relish the opportunity.”

Ben Howlett, MP for Bath, urged city residents to back him, saying that more had been achieved in the last two years than Bath has seen in the past three decades. At the time of going to press, Jacob Rees-Mogg, MP for North East Somerset, had not commented.

Labour Leader, Jeremy Corbyn, said in a statement: “I welcome the Prime Minister’s decision to give the British people the chance to vote for a Government that will put the interests of the majority first. Labour will be offering the country an effective alternative to a Government that has failed to rebuild the economy, delivered falling living standards and damaging cuts to our schools and NHS.”

Local Liberal Democrat campaigners have shared the news that since the announcement, over 1,000 people had joined the party and some local commentators speculating that Bath, if not North East Somerset, could see a return to the mid-left.

Leader of the Liberal Democrats, Tim Farron, who appeared in Bristol on Tuesday night to launch the manifesto for Metro Mayor candidate, Stephen Williams, said: “If you want to avoid a disastrous Hard Brexit. If you want to keep Britain in the Single Market. If you want a Britain that is open, tolerant and united – this is your chance.”

The party leaders of UKIP and the Green Party have also welcomed the decision.

The General Election will take place on 8th June, a month after the Metro Mayor Election and local Council elections (4th May). Candidates standing for the MP positions will be announced shortly.