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.

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."


The Fixed-Term Parliaments Act sets the general election date as the first Thursday in May every five years, meaning 2020 is the next expected contest.

But Mrs May could call an early election if two-thirds of MPs in the Commons vote for it and Jeremy Corbyn has previously indicated Labour would support such a move.

In March Downing Street strenuously denied Mrs May would call a vote before 2020.

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A Number 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 have suggested Mrs May should go to the country in order to strengthen her Parliamentary position.

Such a move would also give a mandate both for her leadership and her negotiating position on Brexit before talks with the European Union start in earnest.

The statement followed a gathering of Mrs May's senior ministers at the regular Cabinet meeting in Downing Street.

News of the pending statement sent the pound lower by 0.3% against the US dollar to trade at 1.251, having traded higher by around 0.17% earlier in the morning.

Versus the euro, the pound slumped more than 0.4% to trade at 1.175, losing previous gains of more than 0.1%.

The lack of an official seal on the lectern set up for the statement in Downing Street fuelled speculation that Mrs May will call an early general election, as doing so would be a party political move rather than Government policy.