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Live: Theresa May calls for snap General Election on June 8

Theresa May has called for a snap General Election on June 8.

It comes less than a month after Downing Street said an early election was "not going to happen".

Here are the latest developments:

  • Mrs May said she had "reluctantly" come to the decision as Westminster was too divided going into Brexit negotiations
  • The prime minister needs the backing of two-thirds of MPs to hold the election, with a vote due in the Commons on Wednesday
  • Mrs May told ITV News she made the decision during her recent walking holiday in Wales
  • Opposition party leaders, including Labour's Jeremy Corbyn, have welcomed the announcement
  • Nicola Sturgeon said Mrs May has made a "huge political miscalculation"
  • The pound rose against the dollar following the news
View all 37 updates ›

Kinnock accuses PM of pursuing 'elective dictatorship'

Aberavon MP Stephen Kinnock said the PM's call for unity in Westminster was 'chilling'. Credit: ITV News

Theresa May is looking to create an "elective dictatorship" in Westminster by pursuing an early election, Labour MP Stephen Kinnock has told ITV News.

The PM said she wants to go to the polls because of disunity in Parliament as she announced her plans for a June 8 election.

Mr Kinnock said her call for "unity in Westminster" was a "chilling phrase".

"She wants to steamroller through her vision of the United Kingdom, which we know (from) the 'Brextremists' around her is about turning the UK into a European version of the Cayman Islands," he said.

"There needs to be a strong Labour opposition in Parliament to make sure that doesn't happen."

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Live: Theresa May calls for snap General Election on June 8

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