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UK prime minister defends decision to seek snap election

Prime Minister Theresa May leaves 10 Downing Street in London, Tuesday April 18, 2017. May has called for a snap June 8 General Election, seeking to strengthen her hand in ongoing European Union exit talks and tighten her grip on a fractious Conservative Party. (Philip Toscano/PA via AP)
Prime Minister Theresa May leaves 10 Downing Street in London, Tuesday April 18, 2017. May has called for a snap June 8 General Election, seeking to strengthen her hand in ongoing European Union exit talks and tighten her grip on a fractious Conservative Party. (Philip Toscano/PA via AP) Prime Minister Theresa May leaves 10 Downing Street in London, Tuesday April 18, 2017. May has called for a snap June 8 General Election, seeking to strengthen her hand in ongoing European Union exit talks and tighten her grip on a fractious Conservative Party. (Philip Toscano/PA via AP)

By Associated Press 1 min read

LONDON (AP) – Britain’s prime minister has defended her decision to seek a snap election.

Theresa May told the BBC in an interview on Wednesday that an early election is in the national interest because it will strengthen the country’s position in negotiations to leave the European Union.

May said that opponents were intent on “frustrating the Brexit process,” even after Parliament authorized talks with the EU.

She said that “Brexit isn’t just about the letter that says we want to leave. It’s about … getting the right deal from Europe.”

Parliament will vote Wednesday on holding a June 8 election. Elections are currently set for 2020, just a year after the scheduled completion of Brexit talks. An early ballot will give the next leader more time to implement Brexit before another election.