THERESA May has begun her presidential-style election campaign, urging voters in a marginal seat to “give me the mandate to deliver for Britain".
Just three hours after MPs approved her call for a June 8 snap general election – by 522 votes to just 13 – the Prime Minister hit the campaign trail to rally local activists in Bolton North West; a Labour held constituency with a 4,377 majority and one of the Tories’ top 50 target seats.
In a parish hall in the village of Walmsley, she told voters: “Only you can give us the mandate, so vote for a strong and stable leadership in this country; vote for strong and stable leadership this country needs.”
She added: "Give me the mandate to lead Britain. Give me the mandate to speak for Britain. "Give me the mandate to fight for Britain. And give me the mandate to deliver for Britain."
Following an earlier PMQs clash with Jeremy Corbyn, it became clear that a key element to the Tories’ election strategy is to stress the leadership qualities of Mrs May and to highlight what Conservative HQ regards as the lack of them in the Labour leader.
"It is only with the Conservatives that you get the strong and stable leadership that this country needs to see us through Brexit and beyond.
"If we have that certainty of five more years of strong and stable leadership, then we can ensure we are delivering for ordinary working people up and down the country, across the whole UK.
"I'm going to be getting out and about. I'm going to be visiting communities in every part of this country," insisted Mrs May.
She accused the SNP and the Liberal Democrats of “lining up to prop up" Mr Corbyn.
The PM said: "They are very clear that they want to do everything they can to frustrate our Brexit negotiations, to undermine the job we have to do, the tasks that lie ahead. Do everything to stop us from taking Britain forward.
"And it's their tunnel vision, focused on independence that actually provides uncertainty. They want to pull the strings of this election, prop up Jeremy Corbyn and provide more risk and uncertainty and that's not in Britain's interest."
Meantime, Mr Corbyn was also on the stump in Croydon Central, a Labour target seat.
In a speech to activists, he highlighted a string of recent policy promises to build council houses, help carers and boost the minimum wage.
"This election is about the future of all of us; the future of our children, the future of social justice, the future of our jobs. Are we going to be a country that gives riches and makes riches for all of us, or are we going to be a country that works only to the make the richest even richer?" he asked.
The Labour leader said that a Labour government would conduct "responsible" Brexit negotiations to ensure future trading relations with the remaining EU and he said it would invest in the economy through a national investment bank.
"What's the Tory alternative? To give away £70 billion in tax cuts to the rich and big business and corporations between now and 2020."
Mr Corbyn was mobbed by supporters following his brief address, signing autographs and posing for photographs and selfies as he made his way through the crowd.
One passer-by commented: "I hope you become Prime Minister," which prompted a smile and thanks from the Labour leader.
Earlier, during the Commons debate on whether to hold the snap election, Mrs May was forced to defend herself against accusations of "political opportunism" and broken promises regarding her U-turn on plans for a snap general election.
The PM insisted it was the "right thing for Britain" to hold the poll, despite having repeatedly promised not to call an early election.
Ian Blackford, the SNP MP for Ross, Skye and Lochaber said that if now was the right time to hold a general election “why is it that the Prime Minister stands in the face of the Scottish Parliament and the Scottish Government, which have voted for a referendum on Scotland’s future?”
He added: “If it is right that the people here have a voice and a vote on the future of this country, why should not the Scottish people be given a vote as well?
But Mrs May replied by saying: “Now is the time for a general election because it will strengthen our hand in the negotiations on Brexit. Now is not the time for a second Scottish independence referendum because it would weaken our hand in the negotiations on Brexit.
“Strength and unity with the Conservatives; division and weakness with the Scottish Nationalists,” she declared.
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