What is a ‘snap election’, will there be one in November and what has Theresa May said?
THERESA May has denied claims she's planning a snap election - even though sources have reportedly said it's the only option to push Brexit through Parliament.
But what has the Prime Minister said about it? Here's what we know so far...
What is a snap election?
A snap election is one that is called earlier than expected - or when not required.
The "snap" element is often used as a tactic to exploit the opposition's weakness, as indicated by the polls.
It is called by government to seize the moment and boost their majority in parliament.
Prime Minister Theresa May called a shock snap election in 2017.
But her gamble to try to strengthen the Tories' hold on Parliament backfired when her majority was slashed by 13 seats.
It put the Conservatives below the 326 seats needed to form a government — leading her to get the support of Northern Ireland's DUP in a £1billion supply-and-demand deal to keep them in power.
Will there be a snap election in November?
Senior figures at Number 10 are said to have had “discussions” about campaign planning in the event Theresa May fails to get her "soft" Brexit deal through Parliament.
Private talks were reported to have taken place following the disastrous summit at Salzburg.
An anonymous aide told the that an election is now the only possible way to "make the Commons arithmetic work" and push through Brexit — with or without the Chequers proposals.
And according to the , a senior Tory strategist was overheard telling a colleague: "What are you doing in November - because I think we are going to need an election".
Downing Street has denied May has any plans to call a snap election or stand down.
The prospect of Mrs May resigning or calling another snap election increased substantially on November 15, 2018, when she was hit by a wave of resignations over her compromised deal with EU leaders.
Brexit Secretary Dominic Raab and Work and Pensions Secretary Esther McVey both quit in protest at the planned withdrawal agreement - along with three more junior figures.
A snap election could be on the cards as the PM may struggle to pass the divisive divorce plan through Parliament amid mutiny from Tory backbenchers at the DUP.
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What has Theresa May said to deny the claims?
Downing Street dismissed claims of a snap election as "utter hogwash".
A spokesman said: “It is categorically not true that Number 10 is planning for an election or has held any meetings to discuss one.”
After a week dealing with EU leaders in Salzburg, May released a statement calling for unity.
She said: "Now is the time for cool heads. And it is a time to hold our nerve.
"I have said many times that these negotiations would be tough, and they were always bound to be toughest in the final straight.
"But what’s also clear is that many in Labour, the Liberal Democrats and the SNP are trying to thwart Brexit at every step and seeking to exploit this moment for political gain."
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