UK Prime Minister Theresa May has announced plans to call a snap general election on 8 June.

 

英国首相特蕾莎·梅宣布计划于6月8日提前举行大选。

 

She said Britain needed certainty, stability and strong leadership following the EU referendum.

 

Explaining the decision, Mrs May said: "The country is coming together but Westminster is not."

 

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said his party wanted the election, calling it a chance to get a government that puts "the majority first".

 

The prime minister will refuse to take part in televised leader debates ahead of the vote, Number 10 sources said.

 

Mr Corbyn said Mrs May should not be "dodging" a head-to-head encounter.

 

There will be a vote in the House of Commons on Wednesday to approve the election plan - the prime minister needs two thirds of MPs to vote in favour to bring forward the next scheduled election date of 2020.

 

Explaining her change of heart on an early election, Mrs May said: "I have concluded the only way to guarantee certainty and security for years ahead is to hold this election."

 

She accused Britain's other political parties of "game playing", adding that this risks "our ability to make a success of Brexit and it will cause damaging uncertainty and instability to the country".

 

"So we need a general election and we need one now. We have at this moment a one-off chance to get this done while the European Union agrees its negotiating position and before the detailed talks begin.

 

"I have only recently and reluctantly come to this conclusion. Since I became prime minister I've said there should be no election until 2020, but now I have concluded that the only way to guarantee certainty and security for the years ahead is to hold this election and seek your support for the decisions we must take."