UK MPs expected to approve Theresa May's plan for snap general election

Both Labour and Liberal Democrats have officially welcomed the early poll and are expected to back it in Wednesday afternoon's vote.

UK MPs are expected to give their approval to Theresa May's plan for a snap election on June 8, in a Commons vote the day after her shock announcement.

Under the terms of the Fixed-Term Parliaments Act, Mrs May must secure a two-thirds majority of MPs to bring the election forward by three years from the scheduled date of May 2020.