Local politicians react to Theresa May's snap general election announcement
Local leaders have reacted to Prime Minister Theresa May's announcement, confirming she wants to hold a snap General Election on 8 June.
Mrs May said she had "only recently and reluctantly" come to the decision as she argued Westminster was too divided going into Brexit negotiations.
"The country is coming together but Westminster is not," she said, adding "division in Westminster will risk our ability to make a success of Brexit".
The announcement comes less than a month after Downing Street said an early election was "not going to happen".
Leader of the Scottish Labour party and MSP for Lothian, Kezia Dugdale said the party will back Jeremy Corbyn to win the general election.
Leader of the Liberal Democrats and MP for Westmorland & Lonsdale, Tim Farron said, “this election is your chance to change the direction of our country."
First Minister of Scotland, Nicola Sturgeon, says the Conservative party see this as "a chance to move the UK to the right".