A brief guide to the vote on 8 March and what it might mean for UK policy

Britons will elect a new parliament on 8 March in what will be the country’s second nationwide vote in of 2018, after a referendum on European Single Market membership in January that has set the country on the path of not only leaving the EU, but also Europe's free trade bloc. Here are the three big questions



1. Will the election stop Brexit?



It's doubtful. Although this has been promised by the Liberal Democrats at the last general election and has been outlined by Liberal Democrat leaders since, they are the only party wanting this #ExitFromBrexit.



In order to stop Brexit, a few things need to happen. First of all, there needs to be a vote in Parliament on the matter. This would be for two main reasons. The first would be symbolic, and would consist of the Commons voting in a motion calling for the government to cease negotiations to to withdraw their Article 50 invocation.



The second reason is more legal - Parliament needs to explicitly vote on halting the implementation of the results of the single market referendum held in January. At the moment, the government has a legal obligation to carry out the results of the referendum. Because the nation voted leave, as it stands, no matter who is leading the government, there must be a withdrawal from the single market. Therefore, to have an exit from Brexit, you need to overturn this result.



This is doubtful to happen. Labour, the Greens, the Conservatives, the National Unionist Party all have pledged to uphold the single market referendum result. In order to stop Brexit, this majority would have to be overturned as a result of the parties pledging to change their policy at the general election (that would be surprising) or changing it as a result of coalition talks (more likely, but certain to provoke a backlash).



Even more difficult, if this vote was won in Parliament, the ball would be then in the EU's court where they would have to decide whether to even stop the process. Talks between the EU27 would have to take place, and the results of those talks are up in the air.



2. What has changed in British politics since the last general election?



For a start, the long awaited referendum on European Single Market membership was finally held in which the British public voted to leave. It means that there is now a legal obligation for the government to leave the single market, which can only be reversed with a vote in Parliament.



Another change, more minor when it comes to Brexit, is that there is a new prime minister in Downing Street. This means little however, as the government's Brexit strategy has not shifted. What it does mean, however, there is a chance that there is a new prime minister in No. 10 by the end of the campaign.



3. How will the next government be different from the present one?



Because the Conservatives have suffered a drop since the last general election, polling only 26.8 per cent in contrast to their nearest rivals who are polling at 18.2 per cent, there will be a division in Parliament down the middle, meaning that no matter who enters Downing Street at the next election, there will be a division on how to proceed on Brexit.



If it's the Conservatives in government once again allied with the NUP, there will likely be little change in Brexit strategy.



If, however, there is a Labour prime minister, things could shift drastically. For a start, the Labour party would presumably be backed by the Greens and the Liberal Democrats, both who have contrasting policies on Brexit, with the Greens nationally backing the result, and the Liberal Democrats wanting an exit from Brexit.



Depending on Liberal Democrat hardballing, if they refuse to compromise on their Brexit strategy, then there is a chance that the Liberal Democrats will be outside of government, and supplying a Labour prime minister with support on a vote by vote basis - with a particular emphasis on opposing Labour bills to implement Brexit.



Instead, Labour will have to rely on the opposition to implement Brexit. This means consulting with the Conservatives, who will be seeking to undermine the prime minister on Brexit in a bid to regain Downing Street.



If the Liberal Democrats choose to compromise on both the EU referendum and Single Market referendum, then it's likely that the Liberal Democrats will be in government and there will be less consulting with the Conservatives. However, this also poses the chance there will be more Liberal Democrat domestic policies, and a softer tone on Brexit.



What ever the outcome however, with Labour pledging to respect both the EU referendum and the single market referendum, it is unlikely there will be much change in the overarching destination. Where there is likely to be differences is that if it's a Labour prime minister, there is likely to be a customs union and greater cooperation in EU bodies. There is likely to be much larger ECJ reach.



Examples such as this demonstrate there will be a difference if Labour get into power. What is up in the air on how different - which all depends on how well the opposition do at the general election.