United Kingdom might yet have another general election within six months and most probably another overlapping referendum to finally clear-up this Brexit mess. That is the latitude & extent of political events that could cloud election results that are not very definitive of intentions, or leave an uncomfortable cliffhanger in real time.
The problem most politicians face is lack of political will to correctly interpret voter intentions and deliver as expected. Ignoring electoral verdicts either by commission or omission is akin to arrogance of power.
The first Brexit vote delivered an unambiguous verdict to leave the European Union. Rather than cling to power under pretext of leading the nation into EU negotiations, British Prime Minister of the day, David Cameron, elected to resign, to pave the way for a new face to take political responsibility. From then on, the question was how to line up a political time-table that finally delivers on the peoples' verdict. The new Prime Minister Theresa May, scheduled a program of action, that in the end put the cart before the horse.
As the new leader, she initially decided she had enough majority in parliament to ram-through a vote that should strengthen her negotiating skills for a hard Brexit of no trade and closed borders with EU. So, initial decision not to call a general election seemed on-course, till she triggered the almighty Article 50 - which was the formal notification of withdrawal from EU. Rather than prepare exhaustively for tough negotiations ahead, Prime Minister May made a U-turn and distracted the entire nation with an unnecessary general election. It was arrogance of power to pre-judge and predict a landslide victory, simply by explaining it was a Brexit vote.
To say Conservative Party was nowhere ready for election was an understatement; as Members of Parliament were not privy to their Party Manifesto before the call was made and unable to campaign effectively. There were policy somersaults and Prime Minister herself blatantly refused to debate openly with Jeremy Corbyn - Leader of opposition. Midway into the campaign, handwriting on the wall signaled anything but a landslide victory for incumbent Conservative Party.
Once the peoples vote was for a hung parliament with reduced, unworkable majority, Theresa May became a weakened leader and lame duck Prime Minister that needed to make deals for her survival. Reality was that Soft Brexit was now on the cards. Even after campaigning for the opposite of the final verdict, it was arrogance of power for her to believe she could soldier-on regardless.
If that was a right royal mess, spare a thought for Brexit negotiations - already three months old, without saying a word and which would be the biggest talks United Kingdom would be involved in, after the second world war. Spare a thought for how long before a leadership contest shoves Theresa May aside for another fresh face within the time-frame. Spare a thought for how difficult it could be for Hard Brexit to regain common currency among the electorate. Spare a thought for that French advice by new President Marcron that United Kingdom could still withdraw Article 50. Certainly not tidy enough and all because politicians were arrogant with power, arrogant to follow political scripts, arrogant to prepare adequately and arrogant to take immediate political responsibility.
