Ghany: Wait and see on UK Govt

Ghany said that while Prime Minister Theresa May’s stature had been weakened by her party’s loss of seats, the key point was that her government remains in power.

“If Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn was forming a coalition government then there would be a lot to talk about,” said Ghany.

“But as of now there is no change in the government of the UK.” Given that May had called the election ahead of time to try to build her numbers in Westminster ahead of her Brexit negotiations with the European Union, had her loss of seats now destabilised her government and the whole picture of Brexit? Ghany opined no. He said if May had been forced to resign this might have been the case, but as it is, she had got the Queen’s permission to form a minority government, and is also getting interim stability from the DUP.

Nonetheless, Ghany said there exists a very real possibility that May would face a leadership challenge this summer, even as her failed personal gamble to try to win more seats had led some of her party’s sitting MPs to lose their seats.

Mulling all possible factors that may have influenced the vote, including recent terrorist attacks in Manchester and London, Ghany said, “There is a lot going on, and a lot to ‘unpack.’” A key issue was how the result would affect May’s negotiation of Brexit with the EU.

Ghany said, “It’s a tricky political situation.

A reduced parliamentary majority for the Conservative Party means that the party’s Eurosceptics are more influential.” In contrast, he also said the DUP in Northern Ireland could push May’s government towards a “softer Brexit,” such as having a softer border with the Republic of Ireland.

Ghany said the election reflected many parallel narratives such as immigration, security and terrorism, and the left/right dialogue.