British Prime Minister Theresa May has announced she will seek an early election on June 8.
"I have just chaired a meeting of the cabinet where we agreed that the government should call a general election to be held on the 8th of June," Ms May said.
Speaking outside Number 10, Ms May said the Cabinet had agreed to call an early election.
The move takes place against the backdrop of the country's decision to leave the European Union in last year's referendum.
Justifying the decision, Ms May said: "The country is coming together but Westminster is not."
She said the "division in Westminster will risk our ability to make a success of Brexit".
Explaining her change of heart on an early election, Ms May said: "I have concluded the only way to guarantee certainty and security for years ahead is to hold this election."
Ms May said she was acting now because of the opposition in parliament to the government's plans for Brexit.
"Our opponents believe because the government's majority is so small that our resolve will weaken and that they can force us to change. They are wrong," she said.
"They underestimate our determination to get the job done and I am not prepared to let them endanger the security of millions of working people across the country, because what they are doing jeopardises the work we must do to prepare for Brexit at home and it weakens the government's negotiating position in Europe."
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