Theresa May has made a rare speech from the steps of Number 10 to announce a general election.
Prime Minister May caused quite a stir when she announced the 'mysterious' speech after meeting her cabinet this morning.
The PM has only spoken from Downing Street twice since coming to power - when she first arrived at Number 10 and after the Westminster terror attack.
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Speaking outside Downing Street, she said: "Despite predictions of immediate economic danger since last June, we have seen consumer confidence high, record numbers of jobs and growth that has exceeded expectations.
"We've delivered the mandate we were handed: Britain is leaving the EU and there can be no turning back.
"As we look to the future, the government has the right plan for a new relationship with Europe."
She added that she has only 'recently and reluctantly' made the decision.
May's official spokesman told a Westminster media briefing on 20 March: "There is no change in our position on an early general election, that there isn't going to be one... It is not going to happen.
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"There is a Fixed-Term Parliaments Act.
"We have been clear that there isn't going to be an early general election and the Prime Minister is getting on with delivering the will of the British people."
The Fixed-Term Parliament Act requires a five-year period between general elections, and to overturn this it would need to have a majority of two-fifths of MPs backing it.
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As soon as the news that May was planning an announcement broke, the pound plummeted.
The Conservatives have been enjoying a 21-point lead over Labour in recent polls and it's thought that May is hoping to seize on this lead to give the party five more years. It would likely mean that May would be heading in to make Brexit negotiations with a bigger majority.
May stepped in after David Cameron left following the UK's vote to leave the EU.
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This will be the second general election in two years.
Featured Image Credit: PATopics: theresa may, general election
