May's poll bombshell backed by MPs

After months insisting there would be no General Election until May 2020, as set out by the Fixed Term Parliaments Act, Mrs May said she had reluctantly come to the decision that it was in the best interests of the country for her to have a clear mandate.

The news came as a total surprise to North Shropshire MP and former cabinet minister Owen Paterson, who was on a plane at the time the announcement was made.

"I am surprised," he said. "I can only assume that it is down to the three requirements of Brexit, that is to take control of our laws, our money and our borders, and that she wants a stronger majority."

He said he intended to defend his seat, which he has represented since 1987.

Although she has made her intentions quite clear, Mrs May will need cross-party support to overturn the Fixed Term Parliaments Act, which was introduced by the previous Coalition government to ensure that elections are only held every five years.

The Act sets the general election date as the first Thursday in May every five years, meaning 2020 was the next expected contest.

MPs will vote on this today, but for the election to take place, two-thirds of MPs in the Commons will need to vote in favour of the change.

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has said he would support such a mood, but there is still the possibility that some Labour MPs sitting on slim majorities could defy their leader.

Only last month Downing Street strenuously denied Mrs May would call a vote before 2020.

A No. 10 source said the Prime Minister has been "clear and consistent in her position: that she does not think there should be" an early general election, while another added: "It's not going to happen."

But with a Commons working majority of just 17, and a healthy opinion poll lead over Labour, senior Tories – including former foreign secretary William Hague, who lives at Cyfronydd Hall, near Welshpool – had suggested Mrs May should go to the country in order to strengthen her position.

However, many thought that Chancellor Philip Hammond's National Insurance U-turn following his first Budget last month meant that Mrs May would choose to wait.

There were also rumours that private polling by the Conservatives had shown that many seats in the south of England would be vulnerable to a challenge from the Liberal Democrats.

However, Mrs May will probably also be mindful of Gordon Brown, who enjoyed a brief honeymoon when he succeeded Tony Blair 10 years ago, but chose not to call an election. His poll lead evaporated, and his term as prime minister was dogged by jibes that he had never been elected by the British people.

Telford MP Lucy Allan, who was elected in May 2015 with a wafer-thin majority of 730, said the Prime Minister had done exactly the right thing for the country in calling the election.

She said: "She needs a strong majority in Parliament and this election will deliver that.

"This election is a vote for Brexit and a vote for Theresa May and her leadership.

"I welcome the news, as a strong majority in Parliament is needed in order to deliver for the country.’

Shrewsbury and Atcham MP Daniel Kawczynski said it was necessary to give the Prime Minister a strong mandate to put her in a better negotiating position as Britain prepares to leave the European Union.

"I think that we should have come together as a parliament to fight for the best possible Brexit but because Labour have been playing games I think the Prime Minister feels she needs to go to the country to get a mandate for her vision which she has clearly set out for Brexit," he said.

"She is starting to map out a clear vision of what she hopes to achieve but Labour have opposed that and we have to let the people decide.

"I think she is coming across as a very strong leader and a very principled leader. She is coming across as somebody who is able to negotiate very effectively on behalf of the United Kingdom about this once in a lifetime opportunity. She wants to have her own mandate and the mandate of the British people and I am very encouraged by her. I feel the British people will give her that mandate."

Mr Kawczynski said he and the Shrewsbury Conservatives had been very busy with the local council elections next month.

"The local parties will now have to gear up for a general election," he said. "I very much plan and hope to stand for Shrewsbury and Atcham again."

Mark Pritchard, MP for The Wrekin, said: "The Government needs a bigger majority to lead the country through this challenging Brexit period.

"This is the right thing to do. I hope the country will return a new and strengthened Conservative government."

Ludlow MP Philip Dunne said: “The Prime Minister has decided to call a General Election on June 8, to ask the public to back the strong and stable leadership needed to see us through Brexit and beyond.

"As Theresa May made clear this morning, the Government’s small majority risks weakening our hand in Brexit negotiations. Parliament must consent, but her reasoning is clear.

"I will be supporting a vote for a General Election when this comes before Parliament tomorrow. If successful, I will be out across South Shropshire, asking voters to place their trust in me, and vote for the strong Conservative government the country needs.”

The election will be fought under the present constituency boundaries. A series of new constituency boundaries, which were revealed by the Electoral Commission last year, are still subject to consultation and will not be enacted until next year at the earliest.