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
