Francis Sealey, the founder of GlobalNet21 public engagement organization gave interview to Eurasia Diary regarding next parliament election in Britain which will take place on June 8, 2017.
Eurasia Diary: Theresa May’s conservatives still leads in polls. From point of your view, how many seats the group of conservatives is expected to win in the UK parliament?
Francis Sealey: That is a very difficult question to answer as some of the polls have a large margin of error and predictions at the moment are that she could have a majority of about 100 to having no majority at all and ending up with a hung Parliament. She began with well over a 20-point lead in the polls but the latest poll shows only a 3-point lead and that is not enough for a majority. It is a volatile election and prediction difficult so it will make for an exciting night.
Eurasia Diary: At the same time, how many seats other parties-Labor, Liberal Democrats, Scottish Nationalists, Greens and far-right forces of the UK are expected to get in British parliament?
Francis Sealey: Again that is difficult as the polls are not consistent but it was predicted that Labour might get less than 200, the Lib Dems about what they have now with one Green, no UKIP and the Scottish Nationalists taking all but 3 of their 55 seats. But now it looks as if Labour might get more than they did in 2015 with them being just under 300 and the Conservative just over.
Eurasia Diary: In your opinion, why Theresa May’s rating is so popular in the United Kingdom?
Fancis Sealey: Theresa May’s rating was popular partly because she was new and partly because she seem to represent strong leadership with Jeremy Corbyn the Labour leader portrayed as weak and unreliable. But as the electioneering has gone on then Theresa May’s popularity has gone down and Jeremy Corbyn’s has gone up. He has run a good and honest campaign and people have warmed to his manifesto and his sincerity while Theresa May has made some bad errors and she now seems on edge.
Eurasia Diary: What can you say about various economic and social policy issues that leaders of conservatives and labor- Theresa May and Jeremy Corbyn promise to implement?
Francis Sealey: Labour has concentrated on social policy such as social care the National Health Service and Education and has pledged substantial funding for it whilst Theresa May has talked about a strong economy and the opportunities that Brexit brings.
Eurasia Diary: How do you think, if Theresa May comes to be Prime Minister of the United Kingdom for next term, will she continue Brexit negotiations with officials of the European Union or not?
Francis Sealey: Of course she will continue negotiations, as it is in everyone’s interests that there is a deal. The vital question is how much room will she have to maneuver and if she has a hung Parliament what freedom to negotiate will she have. It could be a couple of difficult years for her and her leadership may come into question.
GlobalNet21 has aim to use social networks to bring new communities and audiences in discussing some of big issues that affect us in this century. Francis Sealey is also a former Producer at the BBC and he has extensive experience about local communities and the use of social media.