Surprising UK election leaves questions on Brexit negotiations, says expert on European politics

LAWRENCE — Despite Thursday's surprising vote that stripped British Prime Minister Theresa May's Conservative party of a parliamentary majority, she is seeking to build a coalition with a small Northern Irish party.

A University of Kansas researcher who follows European politics is available to discuss Thursday's stunning upset and what it might mean for the future of Europe, the Brexit and other issues in British politics.

Robert Rohrschneider, the Sir Robert Worcester Distinguished Professor of Political Science, has written extensively about political skepticism toward members in the European Union and the potential influence of nationalism on elections in European countries. Rohrschneider, who in 2016 served as a Fulbright visiting professor at Pembroke College, University of Oxford, has participated in symposiums and media interviews about the Brexit and other issues in Europe after the recent financial and migration crises.

"The election outcome is a political disaster for Theresa May and a respectable outcome for (Labour Party leader) Jeremy Corbyn. The key questions will be: Will Conservative members of parliament accept her as prime minister over the next years?" Rohrschneider said. "Will the minority government be able to negotiate a good Brexit agreement with the European Union? Will the minority government deal with the UK's fiscal issues, for example, proper funding for the National Health Service?"

To arrange an interview with Rohrschneider, contact George Diepenbrock at 785-864-8853 or gdiepenbrock@ku.edu.