Why May took the plunge

The prime minister always said she wouldn't call a snap election. So, what changed?

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May is seeking to free her own and Hammond's hands
(Image credit: 2016 Getty Images)

"Even before day one of Theresa May's prime ministership, she was categorical about the undesirability of an early election," says The Guardian. Even a month ago "Downing Street said it was not going to happen". However, "it is going to happen after all, and it is happening solely because May sees Conservative partisan advantage in making it happen". After all, "British prime ministers who take over in midterm have no constitutional need' of a personal mandate".

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Dr Matthew Partridge
Shares editor, MoneyWeek

Matthew graduated from the University of Durham in 2004; he then gained an MSc, followed by a PhD at the London School of Economics.

He has previously written for a wide range of publications, including the Guardian and the Economist, and also helped to run a newsletter on terrorism. He has spent time at Lehman Brothers, Citigroup and the consultancy Lombard Street Research.

Matthew is the author of Superinvestors: Lessons from the greatest investors in history, published by Harriman House, which has been translated into several languages. His second book, Investing Explained: The Accessible Guide to Building an Investment Portfolio, is published by Kogan Page.

As senior writer, he writes the shares and politics & economics pages, as well as weekly Blowing It and Great Frauds in History columns He also writes a fortnightly reviews page and trading tips, as well as regular cover stories and multi-page investment focus features.

Follow Matthew on Twitter: @DrMatthewPartri