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A8 WORLD NEWS
Tuesday 19 November 2019
650 House seats, 74 days to Brexit: UK election in numbers

By JILL LAWLESS independent country.
Associated Press ___
LONDON (AP) — There's less 20: The number of seats
than a month to go until held in Parliament by the
Britain's Dec. 12 election, pro-EU Liberal Democrats,
and the country's political who want to cancel Brexit
parties are battling over altogether.
funding promises, econom- ___
ic priorities and Brexit plans. 19.5 million pounds ($25 mil-
Here is a look at some key lion): The maximum a party
numbers in an election can spend on advertising,
that could determine not campaigning costs and
only who governs Britain, other expenses if it con-
but when, how — or even tests all 650 constituencies
whether — the country across the U.K. The spend-
leaves the European Union: ing limit is calculated at
___ 30,000 pounds ($38,650)
46 million: The number of per seat.
eligible voters in the U.K. ___
___ 9: The number of years the
650: The number of seats Conservative Party has
in the House of Commons, been in power.
all up for grabs in the elec- ___
tion. Any party that wins a Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson speaking at the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) annual 3: The number of smaller
majority — or becomes the conference in London, Monday Nov. 18, 2019. pro-EU parties that have
largest party, even without Associated Press joined together in a tacti-
a majority — can form a opposition Labour Party, 74: The number of days until anti-Semitism and high-pro- cal voting plan: the Liberal
government, with its leader which is battling to return Britain is due to leave the EU. file female legislators, who Democrats, the Greens
as prime minister. to office for the first time Brexit day was supposed to have received a dispropor- and the Welsh party Plaid
___ since 2010. Labour is trying be Oct. 31, but with Britain's tionate amount of abuse. Cymru. They have pledged
298: The number of seats to downplay Brexit and fo- politicians deadlocked, the ___ not to run against each
held before the election by cus on health care, educa- EU granted a three-month 42.8%: The portion of po- other in dozens of seats to
Prime Minister Boris John- tion and social welfare. It delay until Jan. 31. litical parties' campaign make it more likely that pro-
son's ruling Conservatives has also announced a bold ___ spending that went to digi- EU candidates will prevail.
— more than 20 short of a plan to provide free broad- More than 70: The number tal advertising during the ___
majority. The government's band internet access to ev- of lawmakers not running last election in 2017 — up 0: The number of seats in
lack of a majority meant it ery British household. for re-election amid Brit- from just 0.3% in 2011. It's Parliament now held by the
struggled to pass key mea- ___ ain's toxic political atmo- expected to be even more recently formed Brexit Par-
sures needed for Britain to 96: The number of years sphere. Politicians on both this time. ty, which wants to leave the
leave the European Union. since Britain last had a De- sides of the Brexit argument ___ EU without a divorce deal.
Johnson says if he wins a cember election. British have received abuse and 35: The number of seats The party, led by Nigel Far-
majority he will “get Brexit elections are usually held threats. Those leaving in- in Parliament held by the age, hopes to change that
done.” in the late spring, when the clude many moderate pro- Scottish National Party, but is not running in over
___ weather is better and the EU Conservatives, Labour which opposes Brexit and 300 Conservative strong-
243: The number of seats days are longer. legislators who say their wants Scotland to leave holds to avoid splitting the
held by the left-of-center ___ party has not stamped out the U.K. and become an pro-Brexit vote.q

Russia returns 3 seized ships to Ukraine, talks about summit

Associated Press of a prisoner exchange. France to discuss a settle-
MOSCOW (AP) — Three Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry ment for the five-year con-
Ukrainian naval ships that said that the Ukrainian au- flict in eastern Ukraine that
were seized by Russia near- thorities will conduct a thor- has killed at least 13,000
ly a year ago have been ough check of the ships to people. The fighting be-
returned, Russia’s Foreign make sure that no equip- gan in 2014 after Russia an-
Ministry said Monday. ment is missing. It said that nexed Crimea from Ukraine
The two gunboats and a regardless of the ships’ re- and pits Russia-backed
tug were taken by the Rus- turn, Ukraine will press the separatists against Ukraini-
sian coast guard on Nov. case against the Russian an troops. The Kremlin said
25, 2018, as they maneu- seizure of the ships in an in- Putin and Macron agreed
vered near the Kerch Strait ternational tribunal. Russian the meeting scheduled for
that connects the Black President Vladimir Putin in- Dec. 9 should help “quickly
Sea with the Azov Sea. The This video grab provided by the Krym 24 tv station via AP formed French President and fully” implement a 2015
Kerch Strait runs between Television shows a seized Ukrainian ship, left, is towed by a Emmanuel Macron about peace plan for eastern
mainland Russia and Rus- Russian coast guard boat out of the port in Kerch, Crimea, with the vessels’ transfer in a Ukraine that was brokered
sia-annexed Crimea. the Kerch bridge in the background, Sunday, Nov. 17, 2019. phone call Monday. The by France and Germany.
Associated Press
Russia claimed the Ukraini- Kremlin said in the call that The Minsk agreement en-
an ships had violated pro- international waters. of 24 Ukrainian sailors. The the two leaders focused visages broad autonomy
cedures for transiting the The Russian coast guard sailors were detained for on the upcoming meet- for the separatist regions
strait, while the Ukrainians fired shots, then seized 10 months and returned ing of the leaders of Rus- in eastern Ukraine and an
said they were traveling in the ships and their crew home in September as part sia, Ukraine, Germany and amnesty for the rebels.q