THERESA May has announced plans for a snap general election on June 8 which has stunned Westminster.

The Prime Minister had repeatedly denied that she would call an election before the next scheduled poll in 2020.

But following a Cabinet meeting at Downing Street she said she would go to the country this year.


There will be a vote in the House of Commons on Wednesday, leader of the opposition Jeremy Corbyn praises the announcement saying: "I welcome the Prime Minister’s decision to give the British people the chance to vote for a government that will put the interests of the majority first."

Leader of the Labour group on Gloucestershire County Council Lesley Williams has told the SNJ:

"I’m not surprised, I thought Theresa May might have called an election on the same day as the county council elections.

"Theresa May has been talking about bringing everyone together since June 23, and I’m not sure this is going to happen.

"This is a very interesting thing for Labour because it’s a chance to tell the country what we’re about.

"The Tories have been slashing the services so badly we can generate support through that.

"So many people are suffering because of these cuts and Labour can make a difference.

“This is an opportunity to talk about all the positive things going on in the Labour party."

Leader of Stroud District Council Steve Lydon has said of the news, "Bring it on, the people of stroud will have this opportunity to show their opposition to the tories who are wrecking our NHS, causing record amounts of people to live in poverty and a national housing crisis."

Mr Lydon ruled himself out as candidate: "I am content to be leader of Stroud District Council and a candidate for the forthcoming county elections."

The Stroud Labour Party are meeting tomorrow to discuss the election, but Steve Lydon won't be attending.

Stroud MP Neil Carmichael has responded to the announcement by saying: "I’m ready for a fight in the General election, and I think the summer will be a fine time for an election

“I was surprised by the decision, but it’s right to give the people a say on the future

“She made a bold move to call the election but I think it is the right thing to do

“I have delivered a lot locally, I have a good record locally in education including on the Berkeley Green University Technology College”

Mr Carmichael will be looking to hold on to his 4,888 vote majority.

However Luke Hall will be defending a slim majority of 1,495 in Thornbury and Yate, the former seat of Lib Dem coalition pensions minister Steve Webb.

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown in The Cotswolds holds a very comfortable 21,477 vote majority.