Theresa May's pyrrhic victory

London

THE British election called by Prime Minister Theresa May for June 8 will transform the outlook for Britain's politics and its relationship with Europe, but not necessarily in the way that a vastly increased majority for her Conservative Party might seem to imply.

The scorched-earth defeat that Conservative Eurosceptics expect to inflict on Britain's internationalist and progressive forces was symbolised by the Daily Mail headline on Mrs May's election announcement: Crush the saboteurs.

But June's resounding victory could ultimately lead to an even more stunning reversal, like Napoleon's hubristic march on Moscow after he destroyed all opposition in western Europe.

Britain's pro-European progressive forces could still snatch victory from the jaws of defeat for…