Star comment: Why May has played strong card

On the face of it, Theresa May's decision to call a General Election was something of a shock.

But you don't need to scratch very far beneath the surface to find the reasons behind the move.

The Labour Party is in absolute disarray under Jeremy Corbyn.

Under his leadership it has lurched so far to the left that it is barely credible beyond what used to be called the 'Militant Tendency' back in the 1980s.

It is little wonder that the vast majority of his MPs have little faith in Labour's ability to mount a serious challenge to Theresa May's resurgent post-Brexit Tories.

The only upshot for centrist Labour figures is that Mr Corbyn's position will most likely become untenable come June 9.

At that point more talented and sensible individuals - including West Bromwich East MP Tom Watson - will be given the task of putting together a more electable party.

The danger is that a number of well respected, hard working and loyal Labour MPs in the West Midlands will no longer have a seat in the Commons to be part of it.

The likes of Wolverhampton South West MP Rob Marris, Dudley North's Ian Austin and veteran Walsall North MP David Winnick could well be victims of Mr Corbyn's outdated leadership style.

Mr Corbyn is many things, but he is not a political opportunist.

And it is that which puts him at odds with the current Westminster leadership cabal.

Take, for example, Lib Dem leader Tim Farron, the archetypal modern political pygmy.

Having seen his party's credibility all but wiped out by his clueless predecessor Nick Clegg, Mr Farron noted the anger among Remainers in the aftermath of the EU referendum.

He cynically decided to tap into this fury by making ludicrous calls for a second referendum - a tactic which may help him gain a few more votes from the gullible.

Then there is the SNP and Nicola Sturgeon, who looked reassuringly worried during the various interviews she did yesterday afternoon.

She has somehow backed her party into a position where they don't want to be part of the UK, but are likely to be snubbed by the EU at the same time.

Given the dire state of Scotland's finances, there is a good chance that voters north of the border will start to see through the SNP's self-serving, Braveheart rhetoric.

Mrs May has played a strong card by appealing to voters over the Brexit issue.

By saying that a bigger majority will strengthen her hand at the EU negotiations, she has left UKIP voters in a quandary.

Since the referendum UKIP has continued to implode, with Paul Nuttall lacking the charm and charisma of his predecessor Nigel Farage.

There is a strong chance that many UKIP voters could now back Mrs May to see the Brexit job through.

As for the Tories themselves, this is undoubtedly a smart political move.

Mrs May knows she can appeal to people of all political persuasions to rally behind the Brexit flag.

She gives the impression that she is playing a composed, quietly efficient game.

This newspaper certainly does not agree with everything she has done, but Mrs May certainly has the experience and air of calm that voters are likely to get behind in these troubled times.

Hopefully this time when we are told the country will be having a fixed term Parliament of five years, the politicians can actually see it through.