IT is now clear the Prime Minister is building up to a snap General Election in May.

This weekend we saw Theresa May launch into the next phase with announcements that she will be going for a hard Brexit along with the EU blinking over access for the financial markets into the EU.

It would seem that, as has been maintained all along by Ukip, that we are more important to the EU than they state, and they need that access for their economies to grow.

This coupled with the befuddled and confused re-launch by Jeremy Corbyn of his Labour leadership last week and the drip, drip, drip of his MPs resigning means that the Conservative Government will not be able to resist the chance to not only diminish Labour in the commons, but also lance the boil of dissenters, like Anna Soubry.

All told, a perfect storm for Labour and a breath of fresh air for the Government together with a nice opportunity for Ukip to seize the initiative, especially in the North.

So the non-event that is the Mayoral elections in the region will be overshadowed by a General Election which will result in more blood letting in the Labour party and seats for Ukip.

This scenario will be better than House of Cards to watch.

Chris Gallacher, Chairman Ukip Redcar