Advertisement

  1. National

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 ›

Tim Farron: General Election is 'great opportunity'

Tim Farron said an election would be a 'great opportunity'. Credit: ITV News

A snap General Election would provide a "great opportunity" for Britain to "change the direction" of the country.

Liberal Democrat leader Tim Farron said a potential election represents a chance for the UK to alter which path it takes during Brexit negotiations.

Speaking to ITV News, he said: "It's a great opportunity for the British people to choose to change the direction of our country.

"To oppose a hard Brexit, to keep us in the single market and to make sure that we actually have a strong and decent opposition - which only the Liberal Democrats now offer."

He added that Labour under Jeremy Corbyn had "effectively decided" not to be an alternative government.

  1. Read more
  2. 37 updates
Live: Theresa May calls for snap General Election on June 8

More on this story