Theresa May has hobbled her premiership, calling an election in which she failed to perform

"READING, England — Theresa May, who was elevated to the British premiership under the unlikeliest of circumstances, will now see her power curtailed, in a vote as unexpected as Britain’s decision last year to leave the European Union.

As was the case with the spectacular fall of David Cameron, her Conservative predecessor who resigned after losing the Brexit vote he had initiated, May’s wound is self-inflicted. She called Thursday’s snap election in a bid to strengthen her hand ahead of difficult divorce negotiations with the European bloc.

Buoyed by polls that suggested she would eviscerate the Labour Party led by Jeremy Corbyn, May did not campaign vigorously. She skipped debates and spoke in sound bites when she addressed voters, whom she promised “strong and stable leadership.”

Britain responded by dealing a devastating blow to her leadership, putting her future as prime minister at risk even if she is able to continue governing in the short-term. A projection based on nearly nationwide results indicated the Conservatives would send 319 members to Parliament, seven shy of a working majority in the 650-member body."

Theresa May has hobbled her premiership, calling an election in which she failed to perform