General Election confirmed as MPs back Theresa May

An early election would, therefore, be the fourth big vote in four years after the general election of 2015.

Tellers approach the speaker to announce the result of a vote by MPs in the House of Commons as they cleared the way for a general election on June 8.

Labour Party shadow home secretary Diane Abbott said May had made a decision to "cut and run" ahead of Brexit negotiations and predicted an unpleasant campaign under the management of spin-doctor Lynton Crosby, the man behind the dirty campaigning for Zac Goldsmith when he ran against Labour's Sadiq Khan in the London mayoral election.

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has welcomed the election and says all Labour MPs will face a ballot to earn their seats.

He added: "With the Conservatives squarely behind Brexit, and Ukip now appearing divided and redundant, the target for the PM is the floating voters on modest incomes and in liberal Britain.

But I think our British friends will lose more than what we lose", she said.

It's this prospect of a so-called "hard Brexit" that has mainly anxious businesses in Britain, many of which trade intensely with the European Union, the biggest destination for British exports. The currency fall does help exporters by making their goods more competitive, but that is a one-off gain that could be more than offset by the impact of European Union tariffs on British goods and barriers to trade.

Residency and social security were also highlighted by the Commission as rights it will seek to protect in the two-year negotiations with London, as the two sides try to undo the mass of legislation agreed since Britain joined the European Economic Community in 1973.

The negotiating guidelines can only be adopted once leaders of the remaining 27 EU member countries have approved broader guidelines now being developed by the European Council.

A victory would give May a powerful mandate extending until 2022, long enough to cover the Brexit negotiations plus a possible transition period into new trading arrangements with the EU.

"Because if she won't accept that, this is the most squalid election campaign that has happened in my lifetime". "They will lose dozens and dozens", he said.

Parliament will vote Wednesday on holding a June 8 election.

The document did not say how much the Brexit settlement might cost but European Union officials have previously said it could be as much as €60 billion, sparking howls of outrage in London which puts the figure nearer €20 billion.

Still, elections have a habit of delivering unexpected outcomes.

"The prime minister's attempt to dodge scrutiny shows how she holds the public in contempt", he said.

Theresa May now holds all the cards in British politics.

Opening the debate on the motion to authorise the snap poll, Mrs May said it was time "put our fate in the hands of the people and let the people decide". Some have even said the reaction since May's announcement was overdone and liable to a reverse.